Having rejoined the national team to rescue a faltering campaign, Addo has struggled to find solutions.
Ghana, a four-time African champion, has been unable to break free from its downward spiral, with disappointing results continuing to haunt the team.
After early exits from the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments, Ghana’s qualification for the 2025 edition is now hanging by a thread, and Addo may soon pay the price if fortunes don’t turn around.
Ghana’s Decline in African Football
Ghana’s recent performances in the AFCON have fallen far short of the nation’s proud footballing history.
After years of success, including their last continental triumph in 1982, the Black Stars have struggled to replicate their former glory.
Their last two appearances in the tournament—one point in Cameroon and two in Ivory Coast—have been marked by underachievement.
With just two points from four matches in the current qualifying campaign, Ghana is facing the very real prospect of missing out on the next AFCON, which will be hosted in Morocco.
This would be the first time since 2004 that the Black Stars fail to qualify for the tournament, marking a historic low for one of Africa’s footballing giants.
Otto Addo Stays Optimistic Despite Growing Pressure
Despite the mounting pressure, Otto Addo remains hopeful. Speaking to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) this Thursday, the 49-year-old coach addressed his team’s slim chances of qualification.
“It’s not over yet. Mathematically, there is still a chance, and we will do everything in our power to keep it alive,” Addo said, determined to rally his players ahead of the crucial final games.
Since his return to the helm in March, Addo has managed three wins, three losses, and two draws in eight matches.
However, his inability to secure victories in key fixtures has left Ghana third in Group F, with qualification slipping out of their control.
Most notably, the goalless draw and subsequent 2-0 loss to Sudan have been defining moments in this faltering campaign.
Reflecting on these missed opportunities, Addo expressed his frustrations: “When I think back, it’s not only about this match, but also about our overall approach.
You have to win your home matches. The passion and discipline, both defensively and offensively, were there, but we simply did not know how to execute.
We certainly deserved to win against Angola, and also the last time against Sudan.”
Facing a Make-or-Break Moment
Far removed from the success of his earlier stint, which included guiding Ghana to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Addo now finds himself at the helm of a team struggling to find its rhythm.
With upcoming matches against Angola and Niger, Ghana’s hopes of making the 2025 AFCON hang in the balance—and so does Addo’s future as head coach.
If Ghana fails to qualify, it could mark the end of Addo’s tenure with the Black Stars.
His optimistic outlook may not be enough to stave off the growing calls for change, as Ghanaian football fans yearn for a return to their former dominance on the continent.
