Former Black Stars assistant coach Ibrahim Tanko has come to the defense of embattled Ghana coach Otto Addo, amid mounting calls for his dismissal following inconsistent performances.
Otto Addo, who was reappointed in March to replace Chris Hughton after Ghana’s poor showing at the 2023 AFCON, is under fire for his underwhelming second stint.
While his first tenure saw success, including leading Ghana to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, his current record of two wins, four draws, and four losses has left fans disillusioned.
The nadir of his second term came during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, where Ghana failed to win a single match, missing out on the tournament for the first time since 2004.
However, the Black Stars’ recent resurgence in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with two wins placing them joint-top of Group I, offers hope for redemption.
Despite the backlash, Ibrahim Tanko has urged patience and support for Addo as he works to restore Ghana’s football fortunes.
“I don’t believe the job is too big for him. He came in at a very challenging time. Remember, he took us to the World Cup in Qatar, though the performance wasn’t as expected, and then he was replaced by Chris Hughton, who was the technical director,” he told Flashscore.
“His return was always going to come with pressure. I don’t believe we should sack him; instead, we need to give him a chance. With the World Cup qualifiers coming up, should we really be bringing in a new coach?
“He just signed a three-year contract—if you sack him, you’ll have to pay. Plus, there’s no guarantee that the next coach will make an immediate impact,” he added
Otto Addo’s immediate future still hangs in the balance, with the GFA set to come to a resoluti on on his future after an Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars are set to return to action in March, where they will take on Chad and Madagascar in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
