In January 2024, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) outlined five key criteria that the next Black Stars coach must meet.
This followed the disappointing performances of the Black Stars at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which led to the departure of Chris Hughton.
Hughton was relieved of his duties as head coach after the team suffered a group stage exit in Ivory Coast.
The criteria for the selection of the new head coach emphasised the need for a thorough and strategic approach to finding a suitable candidate. A five-member committee led by Mark Addo, Vice President of GFA, was appointed to evaluate and recommend a suitable candidate to the Executive Council for approval within a three-week timeframe.
Although the timeframe has passed, the GFA Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday to make a final decision on the next Black Stars coach. Multiple reports suggest that the new coach will be Otto Addo.
The Germany-born former Ghana international took the Black Stars to the 2022 World Cup before quitting to focus on his role at Borussia Dortmund. However, all indications point to him returning.
The reaction to the potential return of Addo has been largely lukewarm amongst fans, and sports analyst Phillip Sitso Atsrim says there is a good reason why. According to the sports analyst, Otto Addo falls short of the criteria the GFA demanded.
Otto Addo has been coaching since 2010, and his only major title to date is the German Cup, which he won as an assistant coach with Borussia Dortmund in the 2021 final against RB Leipzig.
“It surprises me. That’s largely because he doesn’t meet the criteria that the FA put out there. And there’s no way in a million years any Ghanaian should overlook their criteria because the FA then put it out there to tell us the expectations of what the next coach should look like. And when we look at the criteria they put out there, it’s a very elite coach. Otto Addo doesn’t fit the bill really,” he said.
However, Sisto believes that given enough time, Otto Addo can perform miracles and help get the team back to its best.
“If Oto comes to take the Black Stars job and then the target is that he grows with the team, it’s not an immediate success that if he’s going to make some progress with the team, if it’s not the biggest progress in winning the AfCON, but we can see progress with the team and it’s going to get some years to work,” he further stated.
"Otto Addo doesn't fit the criteria GFA released"@OfficialSitso is surprised that Otto Addo is the main candidate to take over the vacant Black Stars coaching role.#3SportsGH pic.twitter.com/aYczIVSLQG
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) March 11, 2024
Addo could lead Ghana into the March international break with friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda in Morocco.
By Frank-Kamal Acheampong | 3Sports | Ghana