Interim coach of the Black Stars Otto Addo must be maintained as the head coach of the team on a permanent basis after qualifying the nation to the World Cup finals in Qatar, according to former Ghana international, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu.
Following the Ghana’s shambolic display at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the Ghana Football Association (GFA), based on the order from the Government, fired the head coach Milovan Rajevac for the poor performance, and assembled a team of four technical team members headed by former player Otto Addo on the interim, and assigned them with the task to guide the Black Stars in the World Cup play-off against Nigeria.
The team of four, comprising Otto Addo as the interim head coach, Chris Hughton (Technical Adviser), Mas-Ud Didi Dramani and George Boateng, were tasked to play the two matches over two legs against Nigeria to secure Ghana qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar which starts in November and ends in December this year. The sole mandate was to supervise the two matches after which the team, together with Management Committee team headed by former international Samuel Osei Kuffour would be dissolved for a permanent coach and his backroom staff to be appointed.
Against all odds, the Otto Addo led technical team have delivered excellently by qualifying Ghana to the World Cup after beating Nigeria on away goal rule following a 1-1 draw in the second leg in Abuja on Tuesday, after the first leg had ended goalless in Kumasi, Ghana.
Asked of what he makes of the idea of giving Otto Addo a permanent contract to be the substantive coach of the Black Stars to take Ghana to the World Cup, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu told TV3 NewDay that the best decision would be to maintain Otto Addo.
“Yes. I agree 120%. They should give them a permanent contract”, Badu advised.
“There is no need to change the coach who has qualified [to the World Cup] with these young chaps like this at this time. Because he [a new coach who may be appointed] will not get time to do a lot of preparations.
At least he [Otto Addo] has been with the team for the past months and he has known the kind of players he wants and those who can die for the nation, so giving them the job right now is the best option for the nation, it’s the best option for the FA and he will build a formidable squad for us going forward”, he explained.
Otto Addo remains a staff of Borusia Dortmund as Assistant coach and does not look ready to accept the Ghana coaching job on a permanent basis. However, having guided the team to qualify for the World Cup, it will be the biggest achievement for him in terms of his coaching CV and it is expected he may consider accepting the offer to lead Ghana to the World as many have started calling on him to do.
