Former Ghana midfielder Yusif Chibsah has hit back at mounting criticism of Black Stars coach Otto Addo, describing the calls for his dismissal as misplaced and unfair.
Addo, who has faced sustained scrutiny following Ghana’s early exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), successfully guided the national team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars topped their qualifying group with 25 points, wrapping up the campaign with a 1-0 win over the Comoros.
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Despite the impressive record, seven wins in eight matches, some fans and analysts have continued to question Addo’s tactical approach. Even the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, recently labelled him a “lucky coach,” sparking fresh debate about whether he deserves to remain at the helm.
But Chibsah, who currently serves as Head of Player Relations at the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), sees no justification for such criticism. Speaking on Asempa FM, he firmly defended Addo’s record and urged Ghanaians to rally behind him.
“Otto Addo has delivered his primary objective by securing World Cup qualification, so why sack him?” Chibsah asked.
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“Coaches are judged on performance and results. If Addo has achieved that, there’s no reason to remove him. Throughout the qualifiers, the team scored 22 goals, with Jordan Ayew contributing to 14 of them. That’s a strong performance for the squad. I believe he should be retained for continuity and lead the team to the World Cup. He has experience, will learn from past mistakes, and deserves our support because football is a collective effort,” he added.
Addo’s qualification feat marks a historic milestone, making him the first coach to guide Ghana to two consecutive World Cup tournaments. The Black Stars will discover their group-stage opponents when the draw is held on December 5.
