Black Stars Head Coach Retention Uncertain Amid Calls for Structural Changes

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is weighing the appointment of a technical director to support Black Stars head coach Otto Addo, following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Under Addo’s leadership, the Black Stars endured a dismal qualifying campaign, managing just three points from six games and finishing at the bottom of Group F. The outcome has triggered widespread criticism and placed immense pressure on the GFA to make sweeping changes to the national team’s structure.

Otto Addo, who signed a three-year contract in March 2024 with an optional two-year extension, now faces an uncertain future. Following a marathon meeting between Addo, his technical team, and the GFA, the association announced it would consult further stakeholders before deciding on the coach’s fate.

Reports, however, suggest that the GFA may retain Addo but dissolve his current backroom staff. The proposed hiring of a technical director is seen as a strategic move to bolster the team’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, set to resume in March against Chad and Madagascar.

Meanwhile, the GFA’s financial struggles have come under scrutiny, with Communications Director Henry Asante Twum confirming that Otto Addo is owed four months of unpaid wages. “It is true that we owe Otto Addo. The last time I checked with the Sports Ministry, there were salaries in arrears, which is not new. We are still working on it,” Asante Twum stated.

The Black Stars, reeling from a disappointing AFCON campaign, are now focused on rebuilding and delivering improved performances in upcoming World Cup qualifiers, with the addition of a technical director viewed as a critical step in reviving the team’s fortunes.