Black Stars: Sports Minister Kofi Adams believes Otto Addo should have been dismissed much sooner.
Kofi Adams, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, has disclosed that he would have dismissed Otto Addo from his position as head coach of the Black Stars much earlier if the decision had been solely his.
Addo resumed his role as Ghana's coach in March 2024 after signing a three-year agreement with an option for an additional two years.
Nonetheless, his second term faced significant criticism following the Black Stars' inability to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), leading to widespread demands for his removal.
In spite of the backlash, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) maintained confidence in the 50-year-old, who later led the national team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
His time in charge concluded just months before the tournament after Ghana was unable to secure a win in any of their four pre-World Cup friendlies, including back-to-back losses to Austria and Germany.
The GFA appointed seasoned Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz as Addo's successor on a short-term deal in preparation for the World Cup.
In a conversation with TV3, Adams acknowledged he would have taken action sooner.
"If it were solely my decision, I would have let Otto Addo go much earlier during the World Cup qualifiers," he stated.
Under Queiroz, Ghana advanced to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since the 2010 tournament held in South Africa.
The Black Stars kicked off their campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Panama and managed to hold England to a scoreless draw.
Even though they faced a 2-1 defeat against Croatia in their final Group C match, Ghana moved on to the Round of 32 by finishing among the tournament's best third-placed teams.
Their World Cup journey ended in the knockout stage following a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia.
Attention has now shifted to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, where Ghana has been placed in Group C alongside Côte d'Ivoire, Somalia, and The Gambia.
The Black Stars will commence their qualification efforts in September as they aim to secure a spot in the continental tournament.