Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Simeon-Okraku, has emphatically quashed speculation about the future of Black Stars coach Otto Addo, declaring that the 50-year-old tactician will lead Ghana to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after masterminding another successful qualification campaign.
In a bold statement that left no room for doubt, Mr Simeon-Okraku said it was preposterous to even question the future of a coach who had guided the national team to back-to-back World Cup appearances having led Ghana to the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
“I’m surprised we’re even discussing Otto Addo’s future. He’s going nowhere,” the GFA boss told 3Sports.
Despite the team’s resurgence under Otto Addo, discussion over his job security had persisted in sections of the media. But the numbers tell a different story.
Ghana stormed through the qualifiers unbeaten under his charge -- seven wins and one draw in eight matches to top Group I with a commanding six-point lead over Madagascar — and secure the country’s fifth appearance on football’s biggest stage.
The FA boss was clearly baffled by the ongoing debate, especially after the Black Stars’ remarkable turnaround from a crisis period that saw them miss out on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time in two decades.
“Otto Addo comes back, plays eight games, wins seven, draws one — and then all of a sudden, people are talking about the future of the coach?” he questioned.
From crisis to redemption
It has been a remarkable comeback story for the 50-year-old gaffer, whose leadership steadied the Black Stars after a turbulent spell.
The FA resisted public pressure to sack him following a dismal 2025 AFCON qualifying run in which Ghana went six games without a win. Their faith paid off handsomely.
Otto Addo revitalised the team, restored belief, and engineered a run of eight unbeaten matches that reignited national pride and optimism.
Under his watch, Ghana rediscovered their rhythm, discipline, and sense of purpose, qualities that had long defined the nation’s footballing identity.
In an interview with the Graphic Sports, Otto Addo attributed the team’s resurgence to the unflinching support of the GFA, improvements in his technical setup, and a renewed commitment among his players — rather than any drastic change in tactics.
“They [GFA leadership] gave me full backing from day one, even from my first day of coming in 2021 before the World Cup in 2022,” Otto Addo explained.
“I know they trust me and believe in me. They showed, especially in bad times, that they still believed in me.”
For the coach, the real key to Ghana’s long-term success lies in consistency rather than panic-driven changes and short-term results.
“Continuity and longevity are vital. I think it was a good decision, and I’m very happy I could prove they made the right one,” he said.
With Ghana’s ticket to the 2026 World Cup now secured, the FA’s confidence in Otto Addo seems stronger than ever, as the technical team and football regulatory body shift focus to the team's preparation for the World Cup tournament, with the coach declaring his target will be to go past the group phase, following Ghana's first-round exit at the 2014 and 2022 tournaments in Brazil and Qatar, respectively.
