Former Black Stars player Augustine Arhinful
Former Ghana international Augustine Ahinful has thrown his support behind Black Stars head coach Otto Addo, urging the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to keep faith in the 49-year-old despite mounting public criticism.
Addo, who led Ghana to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is now on the brink of guiding the national team to a second successive appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
The Black Stars cruised to a commanding 5–0 win over the Central African Republic on Wednesday in Matchday 9 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, leaving them just one point away from securing qualification for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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However, debate over Addo’s future has intensified in recent weeks. Sports Minister Kofi Adams recently voiced concerns over the coach’s performance, suggesting that the government would review his position after the qualifiers.
Speaking to Asempa FM, Ahinful dismissed such calls, insisting that Addo deserves to continue in his role given his progress and maturity as a coach.
“This is the second time he will be taking the Black Stars to the World Cup, and I believe that he has learned his lessons and wants to improve, so I wouldn’t say that he should be sacked,” he said.
He also praised the influence of Addo’s technical advisor, Winfried Schäfer, and revealed that several former players, including himself, continue to offer the coach private guidance.
“He has an experienced technical advisor like Winfried Schäfer who gives him good advice, and some of us have been speaking to him privately because Otto Addo is our colleague.
“In the game against the Central African Republic, his substitutions were apt, so you could see that Otto Addo is improving and learning as a coach,” Ahinful noted.
Ghana will wrap up their qualifying campaign with a decisive home clash against Comoros on Sunday, October 12, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars, who have previously appeared at the 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022 World Cups in Germany, South Africa, Brazil, and Qatar, are determined to make their fifth appearance on the global stage.
Meanwhile, watch as fans urge Otto Addo to rotate the squad against Comoros
