Head coach Otto Addo has described the Ghana national football team’s second-half performance as a “disaster” following their heavy 5–1 defeat to Austria national football team at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion.

Ghana fell behind early in the match when Marcel Sabitzer converted a penalty after a handball incident involving Jonas Adjetey. Despite the early setback, the Black Stars showed resilience in the first half, creating promising chances and even appealing for penalties that were ultimately not awarded.

However, the second half told a completely different story. Austria took full control, adding four more goals through Michael Gregoritsch, Stefan Posch, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Nicolas Seiwald to seal a dominant victory.

Jordan Ayew managed to pull one back in the 77th minute, but it proved to be only a consolation as Ghana struggled to regain control.

Speaking after the game, Addo acknowledged that his side had moments where they could have changed the outcome, especially in the first half. He suggested that Ghana might have deserved “one or two” penalties but accepted that such decisions are part of the game.

The coach pointed to a significant drop in intensity after the break as a key reason for the collapse. He stressed the need for his players to be more aggressive, alert, and better organized, particularly with the World Cup approaching.

Addo emphasized that while physicality is important, the team must focus on protecting themselves better and maintaining concentration throughout the full 90 minutes.

The defeat serves as a clear warning sign for the Black Stars, who will need to address their shortcomings quickly if they are to compete effectively on the global stage.