Mohammed Gargo Advocates for the Removal of Otto Addo as Ghana’s National Team Coach After AFCON Qualification Failure

In a significant statement regarding Ghana’s football future, former Black Stars defender Mohammed Gargo has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to reconsider the position of head coach Otto Addo, particularly after the team’s disappointing failure to qualify for the highly anticipated 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Gargo firmly believes that the burden of this historic failure rests solely on Addo’s shoulders and not on the performance of his assistants. His remarks come at a time when the GFA is reportedly contemplating changes to the coaching staff, possibly dismissing assistant coaches Joseph Laumann and John Paintsil while choosing to keep Addo in his position.

Under Addo’s tenure, the Black Stars experienced a shocking decline, failing to secure a single victory in their qualification campaign, marking the first time in over two decades that Ghana has missed out on the prestigious AFCON, with the campaign culminating in November 2024.

“When a football team is considering a coaching shakeup, the accountability starts with the head coach, as they are ultimately responsible for the team’s performance,” Gargo stated during an interview with Citi Sports.

“As the head coach, you issue directives to your assistants to manage the day-to-day operations, whether during training sessions or match preparations. Therefore, if the GFA decides to make changes, they should replace the entire technical team to pave the way for fresh leadership that could potentially yield better results, rather than merely retaining the head coach while letting the assistants go.”

“In several of his post-match interviews, Otto Addo has taken full responsibility for the outcomes, which further emphasizes the need for accountability at the top level,” he added. Gargo’s comments reflect a growing concern among fans and analysts regarding the future direction of Ghanaian football.

It is anticipated that the GFA will appoint two new assistant coaches to support Otto Addo as the team prepares for the critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to begin in March. This decision could play a pivotal role in shaping the team’s approach and performance moving forward.