Ghanaians have expressed their frustration with the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars, after the team lost 1-2 to Niger in the 2025 AFCON qualifier on Monday, November 18, 2024.
The fate of the four-time African champions was sealed on Friday when they failed to secure a crucial win over Angola, settling instead for a 1-1 draw.
Many Ghanaians are disappointed that the Black Stars could not redeem themselves by winning against Niger in a match played at the Accra Sports Stadium. Fans viewed this as an opportunity to compensate for their failure to qualify for the continental tournament.
Speaking to GhanaWeb, some members of the public called for the recruitment of a more experienced coach.
“We are talking about a national team with pedigree. We are four-time African champions. We were once called the Brazilians of Africa because this is a team that great players toiled for—like Asamoah Gyan and Michael Essien. They didn’t win anything, but we still hold them in high regard.
“We need a coach who can stand the test of time, read games, and apply the right strategies to win. Instead, we opted for Otto Addo. It makes me sad when Ghanaians say we should allow Otto Addo to learn on the job. It’s been over 42 years since Ghana won a trophy.
“Instead of hiring someone proven, we settled on Otto Addo. This FA told us they needed someone with at least 15 years of coaching experience. Clearly, Otto Addo doesn’t meet this criterion, yet he was given the job. We knew we wouldn’t qualify. He still has a lot to learn,” one fan stated.
Another commented, “Kudos, but stop advertising in the media and focus on playing soccer. You like pepper too much. You’re eating gari, you’re too heavy, and you can’t run at all. We’re paying you, so why are you still doing advertisements? Play the game for us!”
A third interviewee said, “I think the players were unprepared. It’s not just about this game. From the first match in the AFCON qualifiers, it was clear they were not ready. The last time we failed to qualify for AFCON was in 2004—20 years ago. Now, in 2024, I don’t know… maybe the number four is unlucky for us. I think the coach should focus on preparing the team. As for the World Cup, I think we will qualify. They should give him more time.”
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