Otto Addo Says GFA Never Explained His Dismissal Despite World Cup Qualification

Former Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has broken his silence on his dismissal, revealing that he still has no official explanation from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for the decision that ended his tenure just months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking on the Fußball, mein Leben podcast, the 51-year-old said he had never been informed why he was relieved of his duties and had deliberately chosen not to seek clarification.

“Honestly, I still haven’t been given a reason for my sacking to this day—and honestly, I didn’t ask either,” Addo said.

The former Borussia Dortmund assistant described his two-year spell as one marked by frequent engagements with GFA leadership, suggesting he constantly felt his position was under threat.

“There was a lot of back-and-forth between me, our federation president and the board. It just felt like I could have been sacked after just one month,” he remarked.

The GFA dismissed Addo in March 2026, only 72 days before the FIFA World Cup, following a 2–1 international friendly defeat to Germany. The decision surprised many observers, given that Addo had guided Ghana to qualification for its fifth World Cup appearance, becoming the first coach to lead the Black Stars to two separate FIFA World Cup finals after also qualifying the team for Qatar 2022.

His second stint, however, delivered mixed outcomes. While Ghana failed to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Black Stars recovered impressively in the World Cup qualifiers, topping their group to book a place at the expanded 2026 tournament. Across 22 matches, Addo recorded eight wins, five draws and nine defeats.

Following his departure, the GFA appointed Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz to lead the national team at the World Cup. Ghana progressed beyond the group stage before its campaign ended in the Round of 32 with a narrow 1–0 defeat to Colombia.

Addo’s remarks are likely to reignite debate over transparency in coaching appointments and dismissals, particularly given the timing of his exit after securing World Cup qualification. His comments also raise fresh questions about governance and communication within Ghana’s football administration.