Sports
Systems let Otto Addo down
The call for the sack of Otto Addo as Black Stars coach has been loud since guiding the Black Stars to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
However, he has always found a way to weather that storm until luck eluded him this time, following back-to-back defeats to Austria and Germany in two international friendlies.
His situation was quite pathetic as a look on his face depicted a coach hoping to not just change the fortunes of the team, but to get the team to play well and cohesively.
But when the results are not there, you have no ‘evidence’ to back those efforts.
This is the story of a man that aimed to make a mark on his second coming.
Otto Addo’s journey with the Black Stars has been an interesting one. He took over the reins of the team and suddenly enjoyed a hero’s status after masterminding the World Cup qualification against Nigeria in a final qualifying play-off over two legs.
His name was sang everywhere by soccer fans. It was not an overwhelming performance though but the ability to grind the result sent the entire nation into frenzy.
With hopes so high for the World Cup, Ghana put up a poor display that commenced the chorus about getting a replacement for Otto Addo who eventually bowed.
But when Chris Hughton, Addo’s Technical Advisor, also failed to make a mark as a coach for the team, the German born trainer was brought back.
Then, the wheels of disappointment kicked in again with Ghana ending over 20 years AFCON qualification streak with the failure to qualify for the last AFCON hosted by Morocco.
However, qualification to the 2026 World Cup covered the AFCON sins of Otto Addo.
But Addo was exposed again by the last two friendlies against Austria and Germany. In those two matches, the Black Stars did not just suffer defeats but put up displays that does not reflect a team ready to participate in such a historic World Cup.
Obviously, the team was disjointed; no telepathy between the three departments of the team – defence, midfield and attack. The team just failed to click while the occasional individual brilliance was non-existent. It was a poor Black Stars, especially the one against the Austrians which Ghana lost 5-1.
And this has usually been the trend of Otto Addo who has proved over the years that he is a slow starter.
Usually, he would get a good or encouraging outcome to overwrite the poor show in the first game; but this time, he was unlucky to meet a much stronger opposition.
This situation affected his script as the Black Stars were dominated by the Germans who eventually won 2-1.
The only thing that kept the smile on the faces of Ghanaians was the size of the score.
Having suffered a 6-1 defeat in the hands of the Germans-in what came to be known as the ‘Bochum Disaster,’- in a similar exercise, coupled with the erratic show seen against Austria, fans predicted an annihilation.
But in that situation, Addo showed a bit of his tactical nous by deploying his men in a 4-4-2 system to give the team some defensive solidity.
But since systems don’t play football as is usually said, the Germans reduced the game, especially the first half, to a training session; passing around the shadow- chasing Black Stars.
From day one, it appears Addo’s systems have never gone well with not just the players but the fans as well. His set-ups always give indications of a team defensively- minded than attack.
Playing certain players out of position also seem to be one of his undoing.
It was quite strange that in a game against Kwesi Appiah’s Sudan, he deployed a defensive strategy that rendered his top players like Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew ineffective.
It, therefore came as little surprise when the Ghana Football Association (GFA) dawn-broadcasted his sack ‘effective immediately.’
“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has parted ways with the Head Coach of the senior men’s national team (Black Stars), Otto Addo effective immediately.
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 Ghana Football Association will communicate the new technical direction of the Black Stars in due course,” the GFA statement read.
It is understandable the joy the announcement has generated among large sections of the Ghanaian fans.
That is very understandable. For a coach that seem to win matches the very difficult way and sometimes by dint of luck, it is very difficult to make an argument in his favour.
For the few that have opposed the decision, the concerns expressed over timing is genuine and cannot be washed away considering the short time available for a rebuild.
As the Head Coach, Otto Addo would carry the cross for the negatives and positives of the team as the game of football dictates but the sack and appointment of a new regime is no guarantee for ‘effective immediate’ success.
There must be a very good audit of the playing personnel. Truth is, some of the players don’t deserve to be around the team because in simple terms, they lack what it takes to feature for a national team tipped to go far in the World Cup.
By Andrew Nortey
Ghana Premier League side, Nations FC, may have suffered the drop in the just ended Premier League and are destined for a fresh campaign in the Division One League (DOL).
But they stand a huge chance of remaining in the elite stage of the game as they face Dreams FC in an epic MTN FA Cup final at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium tomorrow at 6pm.
Dreams FC have been there before; going ahead to taste the honours in the 2022-23 season after defeating King Faisal.
Coming from a season that saw them crawl from the initial stages of the league to finish on a respectable fourth position, they come in as strong favourites to double their honours in the nation’s second top football competition.
History favours them in this regard. On their first final, they conquered and based on this, connoisseurs of the game have tipped them to make it ‘two-on-two.’
But Nations FC have been empowered by the age-old adage that “He that is down need fear no fall.”
Nothing can be worse than suffering relegation and exiting the limelight as far as exposure is concerned.
But the FA offers a decent opportunity to make them stay relevant.
Conquering Dreams FC would not just make them MTN FA Cup champions. It will grant them the prestigious slot to represent Ghana in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) second tier club competition- the Confederations Cup.
With Dreams FC harbouring the same ambitions, the stage is, therefore, set for a final that promises to be explosive and uncompromising.
The situation of Nations FC might have come to many as a surprise, considering their promising start to the season, with their defence especially, marshalled by Black Stars defender, Razak Simpson, and colleague central defender, Raymond Grippman, earning a lot of reviews.
But despite the struggles they endured at certain times of their campaign, the MTN FA Cup always provided slices of good fortunes as they managed to navigate their way to the final.
Road to the top
Nations FC began the MTN FA Cup competition on a promising note, enjoying some good runs with a win over DOL Zone Two side, Ebony FC, in the Round of 64.
That landed them in a tricky encounter with another high-flying Zone Two candidate, AshantiGold SC, a side that eventually won the title from the zone to qualify to the Premier League, but escaped.
At the round of 16 stage, they encountered and defeated Ghana Premier League side, Swedru All Blacks, 2-1 to gain progression to the quarter final stage where they edged Berekum Chelsea on penalties.
A dicey semi-final awaited them against Aduana FC in Swedru. It was a game Nations was given little chance to escape considering Aduana FC’s form but once again, they conquered to secure a final berth.
In total, the Abrankese-based club have scored eight goals and conceded only two throughout the competition, making them one of the strongest defensive sides in the tournament.
For Dreams FC, they defeated Division One League Zone Three side, Semper Fi, 2-1 to progress to the next stage of the competition where they accounted for Division Two side, Asanska FC, 2-0.
That handed them a quarterfinal berth where they faced Inter Allies and drew one all before winning 4-3 on penalties.
The happiest moment in their success story was a 3-2 semi-final win over GPL winners, Medeama SC.
With that feat, Dreams have been touted as potential winners as the match comes at a time the Nations FC side may be psychologically down over the weight of the challenge they face in the next season.
However, the competition has gain notoriety for not following any form guide and outcomes mostly coming as major surprises.
In this regard, Dreams may be tipped as favourite candidates but though Nations are wounded, the stakes could revive an insatiable desire to apply the brakes to turn the dreams of Dreams FC into a nightmare.
Support
The support from MTN Ghana has no doubt improved competition among the clubs with the attractive incentive packages for participating clubs.
MTN Ghana, which is celebrating 30 years of operations in Ghana, formally became headline sponsors of the Ghana FA Cup in the 2010/2011 football season after the competition had returned from an eight-year hiatus.
The first edition under MTN sponsorship was won by Nania FC, who defeated Asante Kotoko 1–0 in the final at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Since then, the competition has been known as the MTN FA Cup, with MTN renewing its sponsorship several times — in 2013, 2017, 2020 and again for subsequent seasons.
By Andrew Nortey
The Black Stars have opened camp in Cardiff ahead of next week’s international friendly against Wales.
The team is being taken through training drills by head coach Carlos Queiroz.
Thirteen players trained at Dragon Park on Monday, with others expected to join the squad on Tuesday.
They include Ernest Nuamah, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Jordan Ayew, Caleb Yirenkyi, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Elisha Owusu, Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya, Jerome Opoku, Benjamin Asare, Joseph Anang, Solomon Agbasi, and Alidu Seidu.
The Black Stars will train in Cardiff for one week ahead of the international friendly against Wales on Tuesday, June 2, before traveling to the United States of America.
Coach Carlos Queiroz will use the period to assess his players before naming his final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Twenty-six players will be submitted to FIFA on Monday, June 1, as mandated by the competition regulations.
The Black Stars are drawn in Group L with Panama, England, and Croatia. They will open their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto before facing England and Croatia in their other group matches.
