A member of the Black Stars Management Committee, Akwesi Agyeman, has urged patience for head coach Otto Addo, despite the team’s failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
For the first time in 21 years, Ghana will miss the AFCON after drawing 1-1 with Angola on Friday. With three draws and two losses from five games in the qualifiers, the Black Stars are currently in 4th place in Group F with just three points.
This disappointing result has led to calls for Addo’s dismissal, as many football fans question his ability to lead the team to success on the international stage.
However, Agyeman, speaking in an interview, stressed the importance of stability within the coaching staff, noting the negative effects of frequent managerial changes in recent years.
“Over the last few years, how many coaches have we had? Kwasi Appiah came and went, then CK Akonnor, then Milovan [Rajevac], and Otto Addo’s first and second spells, as well as Chris Hughton,” he told Hitz FM.
He continued, explaining that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had a long-term vision for the team and had initially appointed Addo due to his commitment to that strategy.
“Speaking with the FA president and Executive Committee, their plan was to have a long-term strategy. They believed Otto Addo was suited for this because of his potential to commit to a long-term project. At the time, he had taken us to the World Cup, but due to his commitments with Dortmund, he returned there after the tournament.”
Despite the setback of missing AFCON, Agyeman insists that now is not the time for a change. He argued that firing Addo could jeopardize Ghana’s World Cup aspirations.
“He’s been brought back to build something for the long term. If you consider the long-term vision, consistency is essential. Football is about results, yes, but right now, in just a few months, we have two critical games against Chad, home and away, to keep our World Cup hopes alive. I don’t think this is the right time for a change,” he argued.
The Black Stars will face Niger in their final group game at the Accra Sports Stadium, scheduled for 16:00 GMT.
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