Longtime admirers of Herve Renard, the chapter was closed for Ghana when the 56-year-old left his role as head coach of the French women’s team to take over the Saudi Arabia men’s team, a position he occupied 19 months ago, last month. Buying him out of his contract will require Ghana’s FA to splurge the cash.
However, there are several coaches with sufficient tactical nous who can easily walk in, with the squad the Black Stars have at its disposal, and steady the sinking ship.
After an underwhelming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series and an impending Executive Council Committee meeting by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Wednesday, Otto Addo’s future looks bleak.
3Sports takes a look at five coaches who could succeed the German-born Ghanaian coach Otto Addo if push comes to shove, and he is shown the exit.
Pedro Goncalves
At the 2023 AFCON, Angola were a formidable side, making the most of their chances, with strike force Gelson Dala and Mabululu leading the siege.
From a distance, Ghana was privy to Goncalves’ tactical acumen.
However, over two legs in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Goncalves may just have had the perfect audition to convince the GFA to try and cajole him from his role in Angola.
The gaffer led Angola to beat Ghana at the Baba Yara Stadium, a monumental loss for that matter.
The victory marked Ghana’s first defeat at the ground in 24 years, and although the signs were pointing to Ghana not making the 2025 AFCON, it was the coaching impetus of Goncalves to bring on second-half substitute Zini, who consigned Ghana’s AFCON qualification hopes with a thumping header.
The allure of coaching a four-time AFCON champion (Ghana) and the talent pool, at this point in time, will be all Ghana will have to try and sway the 48-year-old.
The GFA may consider Goncalves because, after all, his coaching methodology—exciting attacking football—falls in line with the GFA’s DNA.
Sebastien Desabre
Currently, with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sebastien Desabre is one of the managers who is fine-tuned with the modern game.
With a thin squad at the 2023 AFCON, he wrought wonders. His coaching philosophy is characterized by non-stop running and a positive work ethic.
In and out of possession, his side is always ready to work their socks off.
His high-intensity game sees his team win the ball high up the pitch, move quickly in transitions, and capitalize on opposing turnovers.
With a significant number of Black Stars players playing in Europe’s top leagues, his style may suit Ghana in catching and pinning opponents back.
In six 2025 AFCON qualifying games, DR. Congo won four and lost twice, finishing at the top of their group and securing their place at next year’s tournament.
DR. Congo finished fourth at the 2023 AFCON, and a lot of it was down to their outstanding coach, Desabre.
Aliou Cisse
This may be a bit surprising, but once the opportunity has afforded itself, nothing can be ruled out.
After almost a decade with the Teranga Lions, Cisse, who moved from Senegal’s U-23, enriched his coaching CV.
With an AFCON runners-up medal and a winners medal, Aliou Cisse just about ticks the box of a proven winner, as highlighted by the GFA in Otto Addo’s appointment.
From quarterfinal exits and near misses before his appointment, and, given the time and support, Cisse transformed the napping Lions into a fierce competitor on the continent once more.
Not only did Cisse make Senegal a deadly force on the continent. In the 2022 World Cup, he managed to send the Teranga Lions to their first knockout game in 20 years.
Unfazed by pressure, Cisse is one who will relish the prospect of becoming Black Stars manager, with the right environment and backing.
His managerial record at the national level makes him a feasible candidate: 64 wins, 22 draws, and 13 defeats in 99 games.
Based on Ghana’s recent coaching appointments, he is miles ahead of the managers and could be given a shot with the Black Stars.
Eric Chelle
Mail relieved Eric Chelle of his duties six months ago after the Black Stars came from a goal down to beat the Eagles in a raucous Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako.
With a performance that, at this point, looks like a one-off, Ghana got the better of Mali at the detriment of Eric Chelle’s job.
Chelle grabbed the headlines at the 2023 AFCON after he had hunkered down in his technical area and asked to be baptized with water after Mali narrowly lost 2-1 against 10-man Ivory Coast deep in stoppage time in the quarterfinals.
The manager, nonetheless, showed character and bravery with his Mali side throughout the tournament.
Similar to Desabre, Chelle expects his players to take up a proactive approach without the ball.
His defence is a tightly knit one, defending compactly and ensuring his team keeps its shape in games. This will very much be welcomed by a Ghanaian defence that is all over the place.
Managing MC Oran in the Algerian top flight, Chelle would need to be bought out of his contract.
Avram Grant
A veteran manager in the game, Grant knows what it means to manage a top-level football team.
His trailblazing achievement of leading Chelsea to a Champions League final in 2008 opened the path for the Blues to go on and win two titles.
Vast managerial experience, man management, and tactical proficiency are but some of his credentials.
In his current role as coach of Zambia, Grant masterminded the Chipolopolo’s 1-0 win over the reigning AFCON champions, Ivory Coast.
A result that seals the 2012 AFCON winners’ participation in next year’s showpiece.
No stranger to the Black Stars job, Grant was in the dugout for Ghana in 2017, when the Black Stars were ousted from the tournament in the semi-final by Cameroon.
Since his departure, seven other coaches have tried to mimic his hallowed semifinal achievement but have thus failed.
What gives Grant a genuine shout is that, before the 2017 semi-final, his team was a hair’s breadth from winning the 2015 edition.
Ghana went all the way to the final with Ivory Coast but were defeated on penalties. Grant should be high up the list of potential coaching replacements if the need be.
A notable mention, however, is South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, who won the AFCON with Cameroon in 2017 and led South Africa to the semi-final last time out.
Broos has over time proven that even with the barest of quality, he is able to achieve great things and grind out results in this result-oriented business of coaching.
