Former Ghana captain André Ayew has questioned the timing of Otto Addo’s departure as Black Stars head coach, arguing that the German-Ghanaian coach should have been dismissed much earlier.
Ayew made the comments while speaking on the Obi One Podcast, hosted by former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi. He specifically pointed to Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the point at which the Ghana Football Association should have reconsidered Addo’s position.
According to Ayew, retaining Addo after the AFCON qualification failure created a difficult situation for the national team. Ghana missed the continental tournament for the first time in two decades after a disappointing qualifying campaign.
Ayew, who had worked with Addo during his time with the Black Stars, said he believed the decision to part ways with the coach should have been taken much earlier.
The former captain, however, acknowledged that Addo subsequently achieved an important objective by guiding Ghana to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Addo’s second spell as Black Stars coach began in March 2024, when he returned to replace Chris Hughton. His tenure produced mixed results, including the failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and the later success of securing Ghana’s place at the 2026 World Cup.
Despite recognising the World Cup qualification achievement, Ayew questioned whether Addo should have remained in charge following the AFCON setback.
He also referred to a difficult period experienced by the Black Stars after securing their World Cup qualification, suggesting that the team struggled during a series of subsequent matches before recovering.
Ayew stressed that the Black Stars represent the entire country and that everyone involved with the national team must share the same objective.
For the former captain, winning with the national team requires a proper process and collective effort from the players, technical team and football authorities.
The debate over Addo’s tenure has continued even after his departure. In March 2026, the Ghana Football Association officially parted ways with the coach, just weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup. FIFA reported that the decision came 78 days before Ghana’s opening match against Panama.
Addo’s departure followed a difficult run of results, including four consecutive defeats in friendly matches. His exit subsequently led to the appointment of Carlos Queiroz as Ghana’s coach for the World Cup campaign.
Ayew’s latest comments have therefore reignited discussion about whether Ghana’s football authorities should have made a coaching change sooner.
While Addo eventually delivered World Cup qualification, Ayew’s assessment focuses on the timing of the decision and the consequences of retaining the coach after the failure to reach AFCON.
The comments are likely to generate further debate among Ghanaian football supporters, particularly as the country continues to assess the decisions made during the period leading up to the 2026 World Cup.
Source: Thepressradio.com
