Former Ghana Football Association Technical Director Francis Oti Akenteng has called on fans and stakeholders to back Black Stars coach Otto Addo as Ghana prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Addo secured Ghana’s spot at the global showpiece by topping Group I with 25 points, becoming the first coach to lead the Black Stars to back-to-back World Cup qualifications. Despite this achievement, some fans and pundits have called for his dismissal following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking on The Arena on Woezor TV, Oti Akenteng, now Director of Football at Kenpong Academy, dismissed the calls to sack Addo. He emphasised that the coach should be encouraged, particularly with the support of technical advisor Winfried Schäfer, under whose guidance the team has not lost a match.
“Although he has not yet reached the level we all wish for, he has qualified the team for the World Cup, so I believe we must encourage him and retain the technical advisor,” Oti Akenteng said. He also praised assistant coach Desmond Ofei, who recently earned his UEFA Pro Licence, stressing the importance of backing the technical team.
The Black Stars are set to face Japan on Friday, November 14, followed by South Korea four days later as part of their World Cup preparations. The team will learn its group opponents for the tournament on December 5.
