Former Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Ibrahim Saanie Daara, has urged caution against hasty decisions to dismiss Black Stars coach Otto Addo following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ghana, a four-time African champion, endured a disappointing campaign, finishing last in Group F with just three points from six games.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Saanie Daara emphasized the need for a measured response instead of immediate sackings.
“I want to warn against a trigger-happy approach,” he stated. “When issues like this happen, we are often too eager to say, sack this person or that person.’ But it’s more prudent to take a considered approach, assess what went wrong, and then make informed decisions.”
He acknowledged that responsibility for the poor performance lies with the coach, players, and management, but stressed that any changes must be based on a detailed analysis of the qualifiers.
“We need to look at what went wrong. Was it the coaching? The management? The players? Only after a thorough analysis can we determine the best course of action,” he explained.
Saanie Daara, currently a CAF Senior Media Officer, highlighted the importance of stability and continuity, citing Ghana’s recent recovery from past setbacks.
“Remember, we came from a point where we couldn’t even perform well at AFCON, yet we qualified for the 2022 World Cup. That showed promise,” he noted.
He also criticized the GFA Executive Committee for its lack of communication, describing their silence as “deafening.” While advocating for reforms, Saanie Daara cautioned against dismantling the team’s progress entirely.
“Radical changes might be necessary, but they must not destroy what has already been built. Fix what is broken, but don’t tear everything down,” he concluded.
The GFA’s Executive Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to review the team’s performance and determine the way forward.
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