The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports, Wisdom Kobena Woyome, has thrown his weight behind the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) decision to retain Otto Addo as the head coach of the Black Stars.
Addo’s position had come under scrutiny following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Despite being reappointed in March 2024 on a three-year contract with an option for a two-year extension, many Ghanaian football fans had called for his dismissal.
However, Woyome has expressed confidence in Addo’s ability to lead the team to qualification for the 2026 World Cup. In an interview with Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Woyome stated, “I don’t agree with those calling for Otto Addo’s dismissal. I admit that he failed to qualify the Black Stars for AFCON, but I don’t believe he would want to set another bad record by failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.”
He further argued, “If we sacked him and brought in a new coach who also fails, I don’t think that would be a good decision. I believe retaining him is the right call, and I hope he will turn things around by ensuring we qualify for the World Cup.”
Woyome also assured that an NDC government would do everything possible to ensure the Black Stars participate in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
In a related development, the GFA has strengthened the Black Stars’ technical team. German coach Winfried Schaffer has been appointed as a technical advisor and football director for both the Black Stars and the GFA.
Additionally, Ghana’s U-20 head coach, Desmond Offei, has been promoted to serve as an assistant coach for the senior national team, replacing German tactician Joseph Laumann. Offei will work alongside existing assistants John Paintsil and Fatawu Dauda under Addo’s leadership.
The Black Stars’ backroom staff has also been reinforced with the appointments of Kris Perquy as a psychologist and Gregory De Grauwe as a video analyst.
