The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku, has explained the reasoning behind the dismissal of Black Stars head coach Otto Addo, citing poor results and growing concerns about the team’s overall direction.

The decision was made shortly after Ghana’s 2-1 defeat to Germany in a pre-World Cup friendly, a result that extended the team’s losing streak to four matches. Although the performance against Germany was described as encouraging, it was not enough to outweigh the broader concerns.

According to Okraku, a detailed internal review—combined with discussions among key stakeholders—revealed that the team’s progress under Addo no longer aligned with Ghana’s ambitions for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

A crucial meeting involving Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams, GFA leadership, and Black Stars management, including Randy Abbey, led to the final decision to part ways with the coach.

While the FA boss acknowledged Addo’s efforts and described their working relationship as positive, he emphasized that leadership sometimes requires difficult choices in the interest of national success.

Behind the scenes, Ghana’s heavy 5-1 defeat to Austria is believed to have been the turning point, raising serious doubts about the team’s tactical direction and readiness for the global stage.

Addo, who was in his second stint and spent 746 days in charge, leaves with a record of eight wins, five draws, and nine defeats in 22 matches—a 36.4% win rate that many felt did not reflect Ghana’s ambitions.

Despite leading the team to consecutive World Cup qualifications, his tenure was marked by inconsistency and increasing criticism from fans and analysts.

Attention now shifts to finding a suitable replacement, with the GFA working within a tight two-week deadline to appoint a coach capable of restoring confidence and guiding the team forward.

Ghana is set to begin its World Cup campaign against Panama in Toronto, in a challenging Group L that also includes England and Croatia—making the next appointment a crucial step in shaping the Black Stars’ fortunes.