Sports
AFCON Qualifiers: Otto Addo looks forward to a positive reaction from players against Niger
Head coach, Otto Addo, is looking forward to a positive reaction from his players in today’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger.
This comes after a tough 1-0 loss to Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, which ended Ghana’s 24-year unbeaten home run.
Addo is confident that his players have put the defeat behind them and are eager to get back on track. He has also addressed the absence of Jerome Opoku and Joseph Painstil, and emphasized the importance of player mentality and being aware of the threat that Niger poses.
With a strong squad and a determined mindset, Ghana is ready to give it their all and get back in contention for a place in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Here is everything he had to say:
On Team News
We had some few issues and little injuries, but I think they are mostly OK. Except Jerome, I think he had serious back problems. I think his body could not adapt to the training ground in Kumasi. It was very difficult for him. He had problems in training and now it was so serious that he could not train. He had to go back now to get special treatment from his club. It’s a pity. He didn’t play but got injured.
He will be out for this game. Also, Joseph Painstil, there is some issue with his work permit for the US. For that, he has to go to the US Embassy. The procedure takes some days. We needed his passport when he wanted to come to Morocco. We couldn’t take him there. We were hoping he would finish everything fast at the US Embassy. But, like I said, I think it takes more than three, four, five days. He had to do it because otherwise he couldn’t return to his club in the US. So, both of them will not be available.
On absence of Jerome Opoku and Joseph Paisntil and its impact on the team
Yes, Joseph came on as a sub, Jerome didn’t play, but the dynamics in that game is totally different from what you hope to see tomorrow. Yes, at the end of the day, anything can happen. I think Joseph had a good game when he came on, created a lot of chances, had also some chances. At the end, with Jerome, he would have been an option. He’s tall, he has a very good foot, good technique, and you never know. If anything happens or what happens, he will be there. It depends on the dynamics of the game, but for me as a coach, I would always like to have any options.
I would like to have a left-footed centre defender, right-footed, and every position should be doubled up. This is, I think, the perfect scenario, but at the moment it’s not like that. This is how it is sometimes and we take it like that. We are happy to have other substitutions on the bench tomorrow, and whoever will play, the bench will be good.
On player mentality after Angola loss
Everybody was down, so I think the first part was surely mentally. I was down myself after the match, but the next day I had a lot of positive feedback from friends and family, also from some press people, and also the press conference after the game showed me that we didn’t play bad. It was a really, unlucky game, and this positive sign gave me confidence, and this is the confidence I was trying to give to the team in the last days, and I think it worked quite well. The guys looked good at the training, and surely there were some things defensive-wise but also offensive-wise which we had to work on. We tried to implement it in our training as far as we could. Surely not all of them could do everything because of the recovery after the game, but at the end of the day, now I think we are ready for tomorrow.
On the kind of response he expects from the players
This game, we are surely the favourites and I am very, very confident that we will win this game. But in football anything can happen. We saw it last time against Angola, the way the game looked. I never thought we would lose this game, but in football now there is no weak opponent. So we have to be focused, we have to be concentrated, we have to do our job. Then the probability that we win is very, very high.
On the quality of Niger
Absolutely, absolutely, we observed them, we watched a lot of games that they played and they look strong. They have good players on their team and they play together as a team. Like I said, they had some losses, but it was always very, very close and they also had their chances, so we have to be aware of that. They have good strikers, they defend very well, tactically they are well-educated, so it’s not going to be easy, but I’m sure that if we do our best, if we can create as many chances as we did in the last game against Angola, we will force the luck to come back to us.
On weight of expectations from Ghanaians
Yeah, I think they’re fully focused. They have experienced this in their life often, more often. It also happens at club level. When I was a player, we played with Dortmund against a fourth-division team and we lost in the cup game, so anything can happen. This is football, but I think that’s also the reason why they’re there where they are. You have to be fast in your head, you have to be confident, even though sometimes you make mistakes or things go wrong. But that’s why they’re professionals, they recover fast from these things. I think everybody’s waiting now for Monday or for tomorrow to come to show a good reaction and to show that we are still there, even though we lost against Angola.
On conceding late in the last two games
I think we have, let’s say, a bigger squad from 34 players which have a performance level which will always keep us at a certain level. We have to deal with injuries and everything. This shouldn’t be a problem. Surely it’s not easy, but it’s the same for the other teams, so I don’t want to actually go on that. I know it’s always difficult to win. I think the last game showed that there is no easy match. I think we learned, especially from the first two, that anything can happen and everything is possible if you believe and if you keep going. Also, the bench is so important. Players from the bench can decide a game. Surely, I think we talked a lot about Angola. We hopefully learned our lesson. Again, to take out the positive things, that we played really well. We created a lot of chances and it’s now time. We worked also on that, on finishes and how to be a little bit more clinical. It’s time to show it on the pitch now.
On turning the negatives into positives for the team
There was a lot of talking, surely, in the last days, and a lot of negativity, which is normal when you lose. It’s a big, big chance for us tomorrow to win this game and prove negative meanings about players or whatever, or the coach, or whatever. At the end of the day, I’m very, very sure that we will play well. We showed it the last time as well. Now we need the results. This is very important, this is crucial to qualify for the AFCON that we have to win. We’ll put everything in to do that. I’m very, very confident that we will win, but it’s not going to be easy, this is for sure. Like I said, the boys are ready and they’re hungry for tomorrow and they want to show everyone that they’re still there. Tomorrow’s a big chance for us to show it.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
Ghana football is facing a difficult moment as the Black Stars fight to avoid missing another Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. In the same vein, the Black Queens preparing for a major test in their bid to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
But at a time when both teams need serious attention, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has appointed the Black Queens Head Coach, Kim Lars Björkegren, to lead the Black Stars on an interim basis for their crucial November AFCON qualifiers against Somalia.
The Swedish coach will work with Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram as assistant coaches, while former Black Stars goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda will handle the goalkeepers.
The decision has sparked debate among football followers, with some questioning why the Black Queens coach should take charge of the Black Stars when the women’s team also have an important tournament ahead.
Others believe the GFA has made the right decision by using a coach who already understands Ghanaian football and can work with experienced assistants to help the Black Stars recover.
For a country still disappointed by the Black Stars failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, the pressure is growing.
Ghana’s 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign has started badly with defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, leaving the team without a point in Group C.
The Black Stars lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire before suffering a 4-2 defeat to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. The results led to the departure of Carlos Queiroz and the search for a new technical direction.
The November matches against Somalia now offer Ghana a chance to recover. Another poor performance, however, could make the road to qualification even more difficult.
Some sports observers believe Björkegren should have been allowed to concentrate on the Black Queens, leaving Tanko and Attram to lead the Black Stars in the two matches against Somalia.
Their concern is that the women’s team could lose valuable attention at a time when it needs careful preparation for the World Cup play offs.
The Black Queens will take part in the preliminary stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 play-off tournament in Morocco from November 28 to December 5.
Ghana will face Ecuador, Uzbekistan and Papua New Guinea as it seeks to move closer to securing a place at the World Cup in Brazil.
The team has already taken an important step by beating Côte d’Ivoire in the continental play off to secure a place in the intercontinental tournament.
However, the Queens still have a difficult task ahead and their preparation will be important if they are to achieve their World Cup dream.
Those who disagree with the criticism of Björkegren’s appointment argue that the coach can manage the temporary assignment with the support of Tanko and Attram.
They believe his experience with the national teams could help the Black Stars while the existing technical structure could help maintain preparations for the Black Queens.
The GFA has defended its decision. Its Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, has explained that the appointment was made after considering the coaches already working within Ghana’s football system and the need to find an interim solution.
The association has also said both national teams will receive the technical and operational support needed to prepare for their respective competitions.
The big question is whether the arrangements will work in practice especially if both teams need the coach’s attention at the same time.
Beyond the coaching debate, another question continues to trouble Ghanaian football lovers; are the Black Stars struggling because of the players, the coaches or problems within the football system?
The two opening defeats exposed weaknesses in the team’s defence, organisation and ability to respond when matches become difficult.
These problems cannot automatically be blamed on one coach. The players must also accept responsibility for their performances on the pitch.
At the same time, frequent changes in technical leadership can make it difficult for a team to develop a clear playing style and build confidence.
When coaches are changed repeatedly, new technical teams often have limited time to understand the players, introduce their ideas and prepare for important matches.
Tanko’s experience in Ghana football and Attram’s involvement in the national team setup could help the Black Stars during this difficult period but their work will ultimately be judged by the team’s performances against Somalia.
The players too must turn their individual ability into strong team performances. Ghana cannot depend on reputation alone to secure qualification.
The GFA must also examine whether its approach to coaching appointments and long term planning is helping the national teams achieve their goals.
The current situation is a test of the GFA’s ability to manage two important national assignments at the same time.
The Black Stars need to recover from their poor start and keep their AFCON hopes alive. The Black Queens, meanwhile, need proper preparation to continue their journey towards the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The women’s team should not be treated as less important simply because the Black Stars attract greater public attention.
Björkegren’s work with the Black Queens, including Ghana’s bronze medal finish at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has helped build expectations around the team.
Their progress into the World Cup play offs has given supporters another reason to believe they can reach the global competition.
The GFA must therefore make sure the temporary appointment does not affect the Queens’ training, tactical preparation or analysis of their opponents.
In the end, the success of the decision will depend on results. The Black Stars must earn the points needed to revive their qualification hopes, while the Black Queens must prepare well for their matches in Morocco.
Ghana’s football problems may not be caused by players or coaches alone. They may also reflect the need for more stable technical leadership, better preparation and stronger planning by football administrators.
For now, the GFA has made its choice. The coming matches will show whether the decision was the right one or whether the country has taken a risk at a time when both national teams have so much to play for.
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Accra Hearts of Oak will aim to assume the top spot of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) when they travel to Tema to face Vision FC at the Nii Adjei Kraku Sports Complex today.
Perched at the second spot and trailing leaders Medeama with three points, the Phobians would need to snatch the maximum points and a superior goal aggregate to have a taste of the top spot, at least for a day.
It will be a game full of fireworks considering Hearts’ impressive performance on the road against Vision’s strength at home.
The Matchday 6 games would also witness a Saturday clash between Heart of Lions and Berekum Chelsea FC at the Kpando Stadium.
Asante Kotoko’s home clash against Young Apostles will headline tomorrow’s games as they aim to bounce back after the previous week’s defeat in Swedru.
At the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, FC Samartex will test Medeama SC’s character when they clash in what could affect their respective positions on the table after the round seven matches.
After the giant-killing feat over Asante Kotoko, Swedru All Blacks will lock horns with Karela United at the Swedru Stadium just as Basake Holy Stars engage Bechem United at the AAK II Sports Arena,
Fireworks is anticipated at the Debibi Presby Park in the Bono region where Debibi United FC look poised to face Gold Stars.
At the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park, Aduana FC will welcome FC Ashantigold in a clash that will see fans applaud afternoon.
By Andrew Nortey
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