Black Stars’ AFCON Failure: I’m Not Resigning – Otto Addo

Ghana’s coach, Otto Addo is facing widespread criticism after the Black Stars lost 2-1 to Niger in their final Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

This defeat ended the teams’ poor performance, with Ghana missing out on the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

Addo has firmly refused to resign despite increasing calls for him to step down.

“I’m not the person who can resign. If I had done this, I would never have become a player or even a coach,” he declared after Monday’s match at the Accra Sports Stadium.

After initially avoiding direct responsibility, Addo finally apologized for the team’s underperformance.

“I am ready to apologise. I am so sorry that we did not do well and qualify. I know how Ghanaians feel, and I deeply regret our performance,” he told journalists after the Niger defeat.

The Black Stars performed poorly throughout the qualifiers, finishing at the bottom of Group F with just three points. The team scored only three goals in six matches, exposing defensive weaknesses and attacking inefficiencies.

Although Jerry Afriyie scored a debut goal against Niger, the team struggled, with Mohammed Kudus missing a crucial penalty in added time.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has taken steps to address the team’s performance. The Executive Council plans to meet on Wednesday to review the campaign and decide Addo’s future.

This failure marks the first time since 2004 that Ghana has missed the AFCON. Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah, now managing Sudan, successfully guided his team to qualification alongside Angola, intensifying Ghanaian fans’ frustration.

The Black Stars’ disastrous campaign, marked by zero wins, a poor goal tally, and no home victories, has raised serious concerns about the national team’s direction. Fans and stakeholders now await the GFA’s decisions, which will determine the path forward for Ghanaian football.