Otto Addo has expressed his concerns over the Black Stars' prolonged struggles, stating that the team has been in decline for "a long time."He noted that Ghana were fortunate to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, having narrowly beaten Nigeria to secure their spot in Qatar.This qualification came after a disappointing campaign at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and since then, the Black Stars have failed to impress.The team suffered a group-stage exit at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast and now find themselves on the brink of missing out on the AFCON 2025 tournament.With no wins in their qualifiers so far, Ghana could be eliminated if Sudan, who recently defeated the Black Stars 2-0, manages to earn even a single point in their remaining two matches.Addo, in his second stint as head coach, has seen a stark contrast to his first spell, which culminated in World Cup qualification.
He reflected on the team's challenges, stating, "Since not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, we've been struggling as a country for a long time; we were lucky to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup."Ghana's path to qualification now hinges on upcoming matches against Angola and Niger, where they must secure victories while hoping Sudan falters against the same opponents.
The last time Ghana missed an AFCON tournament was in 2004.