How to resolve AdBlock issue? Otto Addo Refuses to Resign After Ghana's AFCON 2025 Qualification Failure
Sunday, 24 November 2024 | News
Under-fire Ghana coach Otto Addo has firmly rejected calls for his resignation following the Black Stars' failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the first time since 2004 that the team has missed the tournament.
Speaking after Ghana’s 2-1 defeat to Niger in their final Group F match, Addo stood his ground, reflecting on the team's challenges while defending his commitment to the job despite increasing criticism.
“I’m not the person who can resign. If I had done this, I’d never have become a player or even a coach,” he declared. “If you know where I have come from as a person to arrive at this job, you won’t even ask about resignation. People shouting and telling me to resign can’t affect me.”
Addo took responsibility for the team's struggles but acknowledged that defending set pieces was a recurring issue that proved costly against Niger. “We started okay but conceded a goal from a set piece. We were aware because the last time we met, they scored from a corner. Surely, we have to defend these set pieces better,” he stated, expressing frustration over the ongoing issue. “It seems everything is going against us.”
Despite the disappointing result, Addo highlighted some positives, particularly from debutants who had a chance to showcase their abilities. “There are some positives, especially from players who hadn’t played before but did well today,” he said.
The Ghana coach called on the media and fans to shift focus away from blame and criticism, urging them to support the players instead. “The media has the power to control the narratives of games, not only the results. You have the power to lift somebody up,” he noted. “I really need you to leave the players alone because they gave us everything.”
In a surprising turn during his post-match interview, Addo also called for peaceful elections in Ghana, emphasizing the importance of unity amid the country's political processes. “I would like to pray for peaceful elections. We have a peaceful country, so no matter the outcome, we pray for peace,” he said.
While Addo acknowledged that a draw against Niger would not have altered Ghana's elimination, he admitted that it could have had a positive impact on the team’s morale. “Surely everyone is disappointed, and even if we had played a draw, it wouldn’t have changed anything. Yes, it would have improved the mood of the country and the energy levels of the players,” he said.
The defeat sealed Ghana’s disastrous campaign in the qualifiers, as they finished bottom of their group without a single win. This result has left fans and stakeholders questioning the future of the national team under Addo’s leadership, with many calling for significant changes to the coaching structure.
The Black Stars will now have to regroup and look to rebuild for future challenges, with many eyes on whether Addo will remain at the helm or if a change in leadership is on the horizon.
Speaking after Ghana’s 2-1 defeat to Niger in their final Group F match, Addo stood his ground, reflecting on the team's challenges while defending his commitment to the job despite increasing criticism.
“I’m not the person who can resign. If I had done this, I’d never have become a player or even a coach,” he declared. “If you know where I have come from as a person to arrive at this job, you won’t even ask about resignation. People shouting and telling me to resign can’t affect me.”
Addo took responsibility for the team's struggles but acknowledged that defending set pieces was a recurring issue that proved costly against Niger. “We started okay but conceded a goal from a set piece. We were aware because the last time we met, they scored from a corner. Surely, we have to defend these set pieces better,” he stated, expressing frustration over the ongoing issue. “It seems everything is going against us.”
Despite the disappointing result, Addo highlighted some positives, particularly from debutants who had a chance to showcase their abilities. “There are some positives, especially from players who hadn’t played before but did well today,” he said.
The Ghana coach called on the media and fans to shift focus away from blame and criticism, urging them to support the players instead. “The media has the power to control the narratives of games, not only the results. You have the power to lift somebody up,” he noted. “I really need you to leave the players alone because they gave us everything.”
In a surprising turn during his post-match interview, Addo also called for peaceful elections in Ghana, emphasizing the importance of unity amid the country's political processes. “I would like to pray for peaceful elections. We have a peaceful country, so no matter the outcome, we pray for peace,” he said.
While Addo acknowledged that a draw against Niger would not have altered Ghana's elimination, he admitted that it could have had a positive impact on the team’s morale. “Surely everyone is disappointed, and even if we had played a draw, it wouldn’t have changed anything. Yes, it would have improved the mood of the country and the energy levels of the players,” he said.
The defeat sealed Ghana’s disastrous campaign in the qualifiers, as they finished bottom of their group without a single win. This result has left fans and stakeholders questioning the future of the national team under Addo’s leadership, with many calling for significant changes to the coaching structure.
The Black Stars will now have to regroup and look to rebuild for future challenges, with many eyes on whether Addo will remain at the helm or if a change in leadership is on the horizon.