GFA Sacks Head Coach With World Cup 71 Days Away
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has dismissed Black Stars head coach Otto Addo with immediate effect, just 71 days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America .
The decision was announced on Tuesday, hours after Ghana suffered a 2-1 friendly defeat to Germany in Stuttgart on Monday night . The result marked the team’s fourth consecutive loss, following previous defeats to Japan, South Korea, and a humiliating 5-1 thrashing by Austria last week .
Germany took the lead in first-half stoppage time through a Kai Havertz penalty after a handball decision against Ghanaian defender Jonas Adjetey . Ghana equalised in the 70th minute through Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, but Deniz Undav struck in the 88th minute to seal the win for the hosts .
The 5-1 loss to Austria in Vienna on March 27 had already intensified scrutiny on Addo’s tenure. Austria scored four goals in the second half, with Michael Gregoritsch, Stefan Posch, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Nicolas Seiwald all on target, while Jordan Ayew netted a consolation goal for Ghana . Following that match, Addo acknowledged his side’s shortcomings, stating, “We have to do better. The second half was really, really not good enough at all” .
In a brief statement, the GFA said, “The association wishes to thank Otto Addo sincerely for his contribution to the team and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavours” . The association added that it will “communicate the new technical direction of the Black Stars in due course.”
Addo, 50, was appointed in March 2024 on a three-year contract, succeeding Chris Hughton after Ghana’s group-stage exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations . He managed 22 matches, recording eight wins and nine defeats . Under his leadership, Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations .
Ghana has qualified for the World Cup for the fifth time in its history. The Black Stars are drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama . Their campaign begins against England on June 23 in Boston, Massachusetts .