Otto Addo blames injuries and disunity for Black Stars’ 2025 AFCON failure

Black Stars coach Otto Addo detailed the challenges that contributed to Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during a meeting with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Wednesday.

During the discussion, Addo accepted responsibility for some of the issues that affected the team, including disunity in the camp, injuries to key players, and late arrivals, which disrupted preparations for crucial games.

Addo attributed part of the disunity to his handling of the captaincy. Mohammed Kudus was made captain for the Sudan matches in Thomas Partey’s absence, but the decision created tension within the camp. He later reverted to senior-most player Jordan Ayew as captain for the games against Angola and Niger. Addo admitted that this inconsistency affected team harmony.

The coach also highlighted injuries to key players, including Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams, as a major setback. Several players pulled out of the final match against Niger, further compounding the team’s struggles.

Additionally, Addo pointed out that the late arrival of some players hampered preparations for key matches. He lamented that the team’s overall performances, particularly at home, did not reflect the results.

In the meeting, Addo requested additional backroom staff to better manage the team and prepare for future campaigns.

Despite these challenges, the GFA is reportedly retaining Addo, with expectations for him to lead Ghana to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Addo began his second stint as coach in March 2024 and has a three-year contract with an option for two additional years.

His tenure so far has been marred by the AFCON qualification failure but has also included promising performances in the World Cup qualifiers, where Ghana currently leads their group.

The post Otto Addo blames injuries and disunity for Black Stars’ 2025 AFCON failure first appeared on 3News.

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