In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through African football, the Ghana Football Association has dismissed Otto Addo as head coach of the national team barely 72 days before the country’s opening match at the World Cup.
The decision, announced on Monday, confirmed that the coach of the Ghana national football team – popularly known as the Black Stars – has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
No official explanation was given for the abrupt dismissal, and the federation did not indicate who will take over the team ahead of the global tournament.
The development comes shortly after Ghana’s 2–1 defeat to Germany national football team in Stuttgart on Monday. The Black Stars had also suffered a heavy 5–1 loss to Austria national football team last Friday, stretching their run of defeats in friendly matches to four in a row.
Addo had only recently begun his second stint as Ghana’s coach after Borussia Dortmund released him from his role in talent development at the end of the 2024 season. He previously led the team on an interim basis in 2022 and was in charge during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Ghana recorded a win against South Korea national football team but still failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Before moving into coaching, Addo enjoyed a successful playing career. Born in Hamburg, he won the Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund and also represented Ghana at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana, making its fifth appearance at the World Cup, has been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia national football team, England national football team and Panama national football team. The Black Stars are scheduled to kick off their campaign on June 17 in Toronto against Panama.
