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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport and agencies

Ghana sack coach Otto Addo 72 days before World Cup begins

Otto Addo pictured at Monday's game between Germany and Ghana
Otto Addo won eight and lost nine of 22 games in his second spell as Ghana’s head coach. Photograph: Thomas Kienzle/AFP/Getty Images

Ghana have sacked their head coach Otto Addo 72 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup. The decision came hours after a 2-1 defeat by Germany in Stuttgart made it four friendly losses in a row.

Ghana, who were beaten 5-1 in Austria on Friday, are among England’s opponents in Group L at the World Cup. The teams meet on 23 June in their middle group fixture.

“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have parted ways with the head coach of the senior men’s national team (Black Stars), Otto Addo, effective immediately,” a statement said.

Germany needed an 88th-minute Deniz Undav goal to beat Ghana, who lost to Japan and South Korea in November. Addo, a Germany-born former Ghana international, was appointed for a second stint in March 2024 and failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite having players such as Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus in his squad.

Addo won eight and lost nine of 22 games in his second spell. He led Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, after working as an assistant to Milovan Rajevac. At that tournament in Qatar they beat South Korea 3-2 but exited at the group stage after defeats by Portugal and Uruguay.

Ghana, who are preparing to play at their fifth World Cup, also face Panama and Croatia in Group L this summer.

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