Ghana sack Otto Addo just 10 weeks before World Cup opening match in Canada | OneFootball

Ghana have dismissed head coach Otto Addo just 78 days before the start of the upcoming World Cup.

The decision was confirmed by the Ghana Football Association following a disappointing run of results.

Ghana have suffered five consecutive defeats in recent matches.

The most recent setbacks came during the international break in friendly games against Austria and Germany.

The Black Stars were beaten 5-1 by Austria before losing 2-1 to Germany a few days later.

Those performances intensified pressure on Addo’s position with the World Cup approaching.

In a statement announcing the decision, the Ghana Football Association thanked the coach for his work with the national team.

“The Association wishes to thank Otto Addo sincerely for his contribution to the team and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavours,” the statement read.

“The Ghana Football Association will communicate the new technical direction of the Black Stars in due course.”

Ghana face Panama in their opening World Cup group match.

That fixture will take place in Toronto on June 17.

The Black Stars will then face England in Massachusetts on June 23.

Their final group match will be against Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.

Addo had been in his second spell as Ghana’s head coach.

He returned to the role after leaving his position with Borussia Dortmund, where he had worked as a talent coach.

The German club agreed in March 2024 that Addo would step down from that role at the end of the season to focus on managing Ghana.

Addo previously managed the national team on an interim basis in 2022.

During that period he led Ghana at the World Cup in Qatar.

The Black Stars defeated South Korea in the group stage of that tournament.

However, they were ultimately eliminated before reaching the knockout rounds.

Addo stepped down after that campaign and was replaced by Chris Hughton.

His return in 2024 was intended to provide continuity as Ghana prepared for the next World Cup cycle.

Instead, a series of poor performances has prompted the federation to make a late managerial change.

The Ghana Football Association must now move quickly to appoint a new coach before the tournament begins.

With the World Cup fast approaching, the Black Stars will hope the change provides renewed momentum ahead of their opening match in Canada.