Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has defended the decision to part ways with Otto Addo before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting Ghana needed more than faith after a disappointing run of performances in international friendlies.
Although Otto Addo guided the Black Stars to qualification for the World Cup in North America, he was dismissed following a series of unconvincing displays during the team’s preparations for the tournament.
With just two months remaining before the World Cup, the Ghana Football Association appointed experienced Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz on a short-term contract to lead the national team.
Speaking in an interview, Adams dismissed suggestions that the Black Stars should have retained Otto Addo simply because he secured qualification.
Asked whether Ghana should have kept the former coach, the Sports Minister gave a firm response.
He explained that Ghana’s poor performances after qualifying for the World Cup made it difficult to maintain confidence in the team’s direction.
“If you look at the losses that we were suffering in all our friendlies after qualification, if you just couldn’t trust only in God, then it means we’re going to the World Cup trusting only in God. No, I don’t think so at all.”
Adams also pointed to the improvements shown under Carlos Queiroz despite the coach having limited time to prepare the team.
According to the Minister, Ghana’s displays in friendly matches against Wales, Panama, England and Croatia suggested the coaching change was beginning to have a positive impact.
“If you watch the strategy of the new coach, Carlos, and you look at our friendlies against Wales, our performance against Panama, our performance against England, and even against Croatia, you could see clearly that given much more time, a lot more could have been.”
