Asamoah Gyan praises Otto Addo after Ghana exit

Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has paid tribute to former Black Stars head coach Otto Addo following his departure, saying the German-born manager did his best under challenging circumstances.

Addo, 50, was dismissed in March 2026 after Ghana suffered consecutive friendly defeats against Austria and Germany as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

His exit came amid growing pressure following a difficult period for the national team.

Since his departure, the Ghana Football Association has appointed Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz as the new head coach of the Black Stars, with the team now entering a new phase of preparation.

Speaking in an interview with Channel One TV, Gyan defended Addo’s work with the squad, suggesting that the coach had limited resources available during his tenure.

“For me, he did what he had to do. With the caliber of players he had, he had to use them ,” he stated.

Gyan also pointed to public frustration following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, saying that results in both competitive and friendly matches contributed to growing dissatisfaction.

“People were very disappointed not to see us qualify for the AFCON. This mark was already there, and at some point, the friendly matches also played a role; we were not getting the expected results ,” he explained.

The former striker added that coaching decisions are often influenced heavily by results, rather than the broader assessment of a manager’s ability.

“It happens everywhere. You can be the best coach in the world, but if the results don’t follow the way people want, a decision can be made. That doesn’t mean you’re a bad coach ,” he added.

Despite Ghana’s struggles in AFCON qualification, Gyan highlighted that Addo did succeed in guiding the team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing it as an important achievement.

“Even though we did not manage to qualify for the AFCON, he managed to qualify the team for the World Cup ,” he recalled.

He concluded by thanking Addo for his contribution to the national team and wished him well for the future, stressing that final decisions regarding coaching changes rest with football authorities.

Carlos Queiroz is expected to take charge of his first test when Ghana face Mexico in a friendly match on May 22.