World Cup 2026: Itâ??s unfortunate Otto Addo got sacked - GFA

Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has admitted the association would have preferred Otto Addo to remain in charge of the Black Stars for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but says the decision to replace him was driven by results and timing.

Addo, who was reappointed in March 2024, failed to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, despite successfully steering Ghana to a place at the 2026 World Cup, which will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

His tenure, however, came under pressure during the team’s pre-tournament build-up in North America, where a run of poor results, including back-to-back defeats against Austria and Germany, ultimately led to his dismissal.

Veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz has since been handed a short-term contract to lead the team into the tournament.

"We would have loved to have the coach (Otto Addo) who qualified us for the World Cup, but unfortunately, the results were not looking good, and after the search period, we appointed Carlos Queiroz as the new coach for the Black Stars," Asante Twum told DW TV.

"He is very experienced, and that is what we needed at this moment," he added.

Ghana are currently in the United States finalising preparations for the tournament. The Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama.

Queiroz’s side will open their campaign against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field, before facing England at Gillette Stadium on June 23. Their final group match comes against Croatia on June 27.

The four-time African champions will be hoping to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since 2010, having exited at the same phase in both 2014 and 2022 World Cup appearances.

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