Let’s keep our coaching to ourselves, give Otto Addo peace to work – Mahama to Ghanaians

President, John Dramani Mahama, has called on the country to rally behind head coach Otto Addo and his staff after the Black Stars clinched a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Addo, who faced heavy criticism earlier in the campaign, led Ghana to qualification with an outstanding record and will now guide the team to back-to-back global finals.
The appeal comes after a turbulent year in which calls for Addo’s dismissal grew following the AFCON qualifying disappointment, with some casting doubt over his competence.
Taking charge for a second stint with two matchdays already played, Addo masterminded seven wins and one draw from eight qualifiers under his watch, scoring 22 goals and conceding five, achieving an 87.5 per cent win rate.
The run included a gritty 2–1 win away to Mali, a wild 4–3 victory over the Central African Republic, a comprehensive 5–0 success against Chad, and a commanding 3–0 triumph in Madagascar. Ghana then saw the job through with a professional home win to confirm top spot in Group I.
Retained by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Germany-trained coach and former Ghana star rebuilt the side’s structure and belief, delivered results under pressure, and ultimately secured qualification.
With qualification now secured in emphatic fashion, President Mahama says the coach must be given peace of mind to ensure he prepares the side well for the World Cup.
“Let us give the management and technical team some peace. I know that we are 33 million coaches in Ghana, but please let us keep our coaching to ourselves.
“Let the coaches and managers handle the team without distracting them. These days of social media, people can say hurtful things that would affect the mental health of the players. So, please refrain from some of these things and support the Black Stars to the hilt,” President Mahama told Accra-based Sporty FM on Monday,13 October.