Ghana Sacks Coach Otto Addo Just 72 Days Before World Cup After Friendly Losses

Ghana's national football team has dismissed its head coach, Otto Addo, with just 72 days remaining until the FIFA World Cup is set to begin on June 11. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced on Tuesday that it had parted ways with the coach with immediate effect. The association extended its sincere gratitude to Otto Addo for his contributions to the team and wished him success in his future endeavors.

Addo, 50, born in West Germany, spent his entire playing career in German football. This included a notable spell at Borussia Dortmund between 1999 and 2005 as an attacking midfielder, where he clinched a Bundesliga title and was a finalist in the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League). After retiring from playing in 2008, he transitioned into a "talent coach" role for Dortmund before joining the "Black Stars," the nickname for Ghana's national team. He successfully guided them to qualification for the 2022 World Cup (where they were eliminated in the group stage) and for the upcoming tournament, where Ghana is slated to compete against Panama, England, and Croatia.

Addo notably became the first coach to secure two consecutive World Cup qualifications for Ghana—a historic achievement the GFA praised as a "milestone reflecting the consistency and evolution of Ghana's technical approach." The squad under his leadership features prominent players such as Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo and Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudus.

However, a string of heavy defeats in recent friendly matches, including a 2-1 loss to Germany and a 5-1 thrashing by Austria last week, combined with the team's failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, ultimately led to Addo's dismissal. His tenure concludes with a record of eight wins and nine losses from his 22 matches in charge of the West African nation.