Black Stars coach, Otto Addo
The aftermath of the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been dominated by two major news stories – Otto Addo’s future and the possible disbandment of the Ghana Football Association.
While the former looks like the easier and more likely outcome from the discussions, the latter appears impossible with neither the government nor the GFA showing signs of making any such move.
With Ghanaians still demanding answers and wanting a sacrificial lamb for the team’s failure to qualify for the AFCON, it is likely that Otto Addo’s head will be offered to Ghanaians.
There have been a lot of discussions about the situation and GhanaWeb brings you the lowdown on the situation.
Otto Addo’s contract situation
In March 2024, Otto Addo was handed a 36-month contract by the Ghana Football Association to head the coaching department of the Black Stars.
Otto Addo’s contract was subject to a further two-year extension with the FA hopeful at the time that the former Borussia Dortmund coach was going to lead the development of the team from the poor state it was under Hughton to a new level.
So far, Otto Addo is nine months into his contract but the results have not been going well.
The performance of the team has not seen any significant improvement and the failure of the team to qualify for the AFCON seems to have broken the camel’s back.
Divided GFA Executive Council
The Executive Council of the GFA is the highest decision-making body of the FA and it takes key decisions as they are made up of representatives from the Ghana Premier League clubs, Division One League clubs, women’s clubs, and other interested parties in Ghana football.
Since the AFCON qualifiers ended in November, the Executive Council has met twice with the future of Otto Addo at the center of discussions.
The first meeting held on November 20 ended inconclusively with the Exco resolving to wait on Otto Addo’s technical report from the qualifiers before taking a decision on his future.
They met on November 27 and despite having the benefit of the report, they still could not take a decisive stance on whether Otto Addo should be fired or kept.
As per reports, the Exco is heavily divided on the issue with some wanting Otto Addo out and others wanting him to stay to at least play the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The FA, through their spokesperson, said that a lot of engagements are being made with the aim of reaching a resolution on Otto Addo’s future.
Government’s position
According to GhanaWeb sources, the government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports has made it clear to the FA that they want Otto Addo gone as head coach of the Black Stars.
The government has, per our sources, communicated their position to the FA that they don’t believe that the Black Stars could qualify for the 2026 World Cup with Otto Addo in charge.
The sticking point, however, is that while the government wants Otto Addo out, they do not want him to be sacked but rather be forced to resign.
The government has thus placed a responsibility on the FA to get Otto Addo to resign from his position rather than being sacked.
This position of the government stems from their unwillingness to fund the cost of the dismissal of Otto Addo. As per our sources, the ministry has still yet to settle the severance packages of CK Akonnor, Chris Hughton, and others and is therefore unwilling to add that of Otto Addo to the cost.
Is Otto Addo owed by the GFA/Ministry
When GhanaWeb spoke to the aide of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Jamaludeen A. Abdullah, he denied that Otto Addo and his coaching team were owed.
“As far as I’m concerned the Ministry of Youth and Sports does not owe Otto Addo any salary. His salaries have been paid and we don’t have any official complaints from him or the FA to the effect that he has not been paid,” Jamal told GhanaWeb Sports.
However, a few days later, the Communications Director of the FA came out to state otherwise.
Speaking in an interview with Joy FM, Asante Twum clarified that it is not Addo alone whose salary has not been paid but rather the entire coaching staff.
“I am not sure they have been fully paid by now because there are some salaries that are in arrears and we have to face it. We owe him [Otto Addo] a few months. Not him alone but the entire backroom staff,” he said.
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