Sports
We must stay focused after dominant win over Madagascar – Otto Addo
Our head coach, Otto Addo, faced the media after our dominant 3-0 win over Madagascar on Monday.
Thomas Partey scored a brace, while Kudus Mohammed also found the net in either half, giving the Black Stars their fifth win in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In his post-match interview, Otto Addo touched on scoring from set-pieces, staying focused in the remaining matches, and fighting until the end.
Here’s what he had to say:
On the game against Madagascar
First of all, big congratulations to the team for the three points. The work ethic today, was exceptional. I think we started well, which led to some free-kicks. One of the free-kicks we used well to score and then from there, I have to say, Madagascar played really, really well. They put pressure on us without creating any big, big chances. But you could see the movements, they played well. But we defensively were very, very solid and I’m happy for that. In the second half, I think the guys needed just 50 minutes.
And then now, in the second half, we came over really, really well. We controlled the game, we had a lot of free-kicks again, which were really, really good. Also well done to our captain, Jordan, who had to take three assists, which is really, really amazing. Thomas took goals. It was really decisive, the execution of the free-kicks, but also the positioning in the box. We were very, very happy for that.
And then we started to play. We played well. Surely, in the last ten minutes, maybe we got a little bit more pressure, but I think we defended well again with clean sheets. So, yeah, we are very, very happy. I think we are taking a very, very big step, but it’s not done yet. We still have to work hard to qualify for the World Cup. There’s still a lot of work to do. But I think we are happy that we are in a good position.
On two wins against Chad and Madagascar sending out a statement
Yeah, I think, like I said, it’s not done yet. So, we still have to work hard. This is football. Things can turn very, very fast. As a national coach, you always have to wait for some months before you can get the team together to play again. But, I’m very, very happy for the results, for the way that we played. I think it was, at the end, well-deserved. And, yeah, we’re looking forward to the other games.
We can’t change the past. We have to look forward and try our best to use this position in which we are now to qualify for the World Cup.
On Madagascar
I think after we led 1-0, they came up well. You can see that they are good players, very, very good runs, good positioning in between the lines. But, also, I think we defended well. We didn’t allow too many chances in the second half. I think it was a good shot at the counter. We know that they are very, very good at counters. Big, big compliment to Thomas and Abu-Francis for closing the centre and stopping them from setting their counters well. Defensive line was very, very solid. But, I have to say, it’s a very, very strong team. I think they have a good future.
On scoring from set-pieces
I think we analysed well that, for example, against Sudan, we had 16 set-pieces. And, yeah, we were also a little bit unlucky. This is also a combination of, maybe, the last will, but also unlucky. I think Sudan, Djiku hit the post. If this ball had gone in, it would have been another story. We created a lot of chances. I know that this is football. If you work hard and you have the patience, the results will come.
This is what happens now. I have to also pay big, big respect for the assistant coaches, Gregory and also Desmond who are working hard, who are trying to find new ideas. I think it worked well. Like I said, we won deservedly.
On Benjamin Asare
At the moment, he’s the number one. We decided for him. He did well in training. Like I said, it’s not like he’s here and the others are there. So, we have a good situation where the goalkeepers are pushing each other, really, really helpful. The way Ati-Zigi and Wolcott also behaved during this week. And the way they also tried to push Benjamin to help him, to support him, which is not that common. I don’t take it for granted, but big, big props for them for pushing him, for giving him hints, you know. And this is good teamwork. And Benjamin really deserved it. He did well in the league but also in the training, the little training we had, he did very, very well and I’m happy for him.
On opening a five-point gap in Group I
Yeah, I think we’re in a good position but this is also a danger. And now already thinking about how to keep our heads focused. The job is really, really not done. Surely, maybe if Comoros win, we’re just three points ahead of Comoros. And we still have a long way to go. We have to be focused. If anyone thinks we’re through, then he’s making a big, big mistake. And I’ve seen a lot of football, a lot of things happening, and we have to stay focused. I’m happy for today, but like I said, the job is really not done.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
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.
