Sports
Every word from Otto Addo’s post-Sudan press conference
After seeing us draw 0-0 with Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Thursday, Otto Addo spoke to the press.
He was asked about the positives from the game, the team’s performance, the brilliance of Alidu Seidu, Ibrahim Sulemana, conversion of chances and much more.
Here is everything he had to say:
On analysis of the match
I think everybody saw that we played well. It’s just really, really bad luck. And their goalkeeper did really, really well. Big, big complement to our defence. From the goalkeeper, starting from Ati-zigi, with the defensive line, Alidu Seidu, Alexander Djiku, Gideon Mensah for not allowing the opponents too many counter-attacks, and not allowing them to have too many chances. And those chances they had, they defended well. Also a big, big complement to our defensive midfielders, who really played well. Elisha was exceptional for me, but also Alidu Seidu was exceptional. And then also, Ibrahim Sulemana, in his first game from the beginning, we controlled everything. The only thing which was missing was the goals, and surely we have to work on this. We have a few days to analyse it, how we can score better. The chances were there, a lot of chances, but this is football. This is football, sometimes very, very hard, difficult for us. So now it pains even more. The Niger game pains even more. Bit I think today, we did well.
And there’s nothing much I can say, that’s the result. This is the most important thing in football.
On positives
I think we deserved to win, but we didn’t. And we will stay positive, and we will beat them away. With the same performance, the same passion, the same creativity up front, we will beat them away.
On whether the spirit and commitment was lacking
No
On taking chances
Surely, we will try to train on finishing and give them confidence, that’s all. This was the only thing which was missing. The spirit was good, the passion was there, the defensive discipline was there, they’re just about to finish the action, that’s all. Sudan was very lucky today. Next time we see them in Libya, they won’t be lucky, then we will, that’s all.
On plans for the next game
Look, I’m not interested in any records or whatsoever. I want to win the next game, and then the world looks different, that’s all. All these statistics and this and that, it’s like that. What can I do? We can only look forward and look for the next match and try to score, that’s all. We will try as much as we did today, and then it will be rewarded. That’s all I can say.
On assuring fans of win next week
Look, this assurance that everybody’s talking about, why? For what? This is football. I cannot even assure, maybe God will take me tomorrow and I’m dead. What can I assure? We will try our best. And I know that at the end we’ll be rewarded. And the positive thing is, what I want to tell you, all of you, it’s still in our own hands. We have to win the next game, that’s all. And then still, we are not qualified yet. Then it’s still a long way. It’s going to be very, very tough to the last match, I think. But we will do it. With this performance, again, we will do it in Libya, against Sudan.
On Sudan
Every team is a threat. And they did well in defending today. Especially their goalkeeper did well. But like I said, if we were a little bit more clever in using our chances,we would have won today. And this is what we need to work on. I think we were better. I’m looking at my team and I think we were good. The goalkeeper defended well. But we created so many chances. I can’t say they had a good performance. The only good thing they had is the point they took. And there we have to work on it. As I said before, we have to work on winning games. We have to win the next game to stay in the race.
On team mentality going into the next game
This is one of the things that every team is trying to do. The players do everything they can to help us. It’s one of the main things we need to do. They show on international level that they can score and I believe in them that they will score in the next game.
Sports
“Black Stars can qualify to World Cup if they perform well in the remaining games”
Former captain of the Black Stars, John Mensah, has expressed confidence that the national team can qualify for the World Cup if they continue to perform well in their upcoming matches.
Speaking in an interview with Max Tv, John Mensah said the team’s recent performance shows that they are on the right path.
He explained that with the right support and motivation, the players have what it takes to make it to the global tournament.
“The guys are doing well now. All we need to do is to keep going, support them, and motivate them. If they continue like this, they can make it,” he stated.
On whether the current squad can leave a mark at the World Cup like his generation did, Mensah said every era is different.
He recalled that during his time, the Black Stars excelled because of unity, discipline, and strong team spirit.
He encouraged the present squad to learn from those values as well as make use of their own strengths.
According to him, this is the time for young players to prove themselves and perform for the nation.
Jacob Aggrey
Sports
Black Stars, Black Queens, Black Satellites, Black Starlets to benefit from MTN’s $2m sponsorship deal with GFA
Telecommunications giant, MTN Ghana, has reinforced its commitment to Ghana football with a $2 million sponsorship package covering four national teams — the Black Stars, Black Queens, Black Satellites, and Black Starlets — for the next two years.
The landmark agreement, announced on Thursday at a colourful ceremony at MTN House in Accra, extends company’s existing partnership with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Black Stars, and will run from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2027.
The event drew prominent figures including GFA President, Kurt Simeon- Okraku, members of the Executive Council, Chief Director at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Wilhelmina Asamoah, (representing the Minister), Black Stars legends, and football enthusiasts.
MTN CEO, Stephen Blewett, recalling his personal connection to Ghanaian football dating back to the Black Stars’ 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final run in South Africa, praised the passion and unity the sport inspires in Ghana.
“Football here is not just a sport — it is part of the national heartbeat,” Mr Blewett said. “The pride, passion, and unity it creates is a testament to its unmatched power to connect and inspire people.”
He described MTN as “the biggest corporate supporter of Ghanaian football,” highlighting the brand’s ongoing sponsorship of the MTN FA Cup since 2011 and plans for a national MTN Elite U-19 side to scout future stars for the U-20 team.
Mr Blewett also threw down a bold challenge to the Black Stars; saying “Ghana has never lifted the World Cup trophy, but that should be the spark, not the scar. At MTN, we want to see Ghana win the World Cup — that’s our dream, mission, and commitment.”
The GFA President, Kurt Simeon-Okraku, lauded MTN’s investment, calling it a lifeline for the sport.
“MTN Ghana believes in our present and our collective future. With this deal, the biggest problem facing Ghana football has been solved,” he said, promising to ensure the resources were used effectively to achieve results.
He noted that the MTN FA Cup’s reach — encompassing second and third-tier clubs nationwide — has provided a vital platform for young, lesser-known players, to compete against top-level talent and showcase their skills.
The Chief Director, Wilhemina Asamoah, commended MTN’s wider contributions to national development, urging other corporate bodies to emulate their commitment.
“Sports has the power to impact lives, boost economic growth, and strengthen cultural and social cohesion,” she said.
The new sponsorship underscores MTN’s longstanding partnership with Ghana football and its ambition to see the nation rise to the very top of the global game.
By Spectator Reporter
