The Ghana Football Association has parted ways with head coach Otto Addo, plunging the national team into turmoil less than 80 days before their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
In a statement on its website, the GFA confirmed the dismissal was effective immediately, ending the German-born coach’s second spell in charge. The decision follows a disastrous run of four consecutive friendly defeats, including a 5-1 thrashing by Austria and a 2-1 loss to Germany in the final days of March. The team’s form had collapsed to such an extent that they also failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, making Addo’s position untenable.
Addo, who won the Bundesliga as a player with Borussia Dortmund and represented Ghana at the 2006 World Cup, was initially appointed on an interim basis for the 2022 World Cup play-offs and finals. He was formally reappointed in March 2024 after being released from a talent development role at Dortmund. His overall record in this second stint stood at eight wins, five draws, and nine losses from 22 matches—a win rate of just 36.4%. While the GFA expressed gratitude for his service, the move is widely seen as a response to mounting criticism over the team’s disorganised performances and a desire for a new “technical direction”.
The timing is acutely problematic for the Black Stars, who are in World Cup Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama. Their campaign begins against Panama in Toronto on June 17, before facing England at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 23. The expanded 2026 tournament format, which sees 48 teams compete and the top two from each group plus eight best third-placed sides advance, means every match carries immense weight from the outset.
England’s Preparations Disrupted by Arsenal Exodus
England, meanwhile, are grappling with their own disruptions ahead of the summer tournament, with a cluster of withdrawals from Arsenal’s squad raising eyebrows. The situation came to a head as manager Thomas Tuchel prepared for Tuesday’s final pre-World Cup send-off friendly against Japan at Wembley.
Midfielder Declan Rice and forward Bukayo Saka were sent back to their club for assessment after reporting “clear discomfort” during training with the national squad. They had been part of a group given time off for last Friday’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay but were expected to feature against Japan. Winger Noni Madueke also left the camp after suffering a knee injury during the Uruguay match, with early assessments suggesting he could be sidelined for “some days”.
These departures brought the total number of Arsenal players withdrawing from international duty around the world to eleven, a statistic that has not gone unnoticed given the club’s congested end to the season. Arsenal, who recently lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City, face a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting Lisbon next Tuesday and remain in a Premier League title race. Other Gunners to pull out included defenders William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, and Jurriën Timber, as well as forward Leandro Trossard, all citing various physical issues. Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, another recent England call-up, has also been ruled out for at least a month with a calf injury.
Tuchel Defends Players Amid ‘Suspicious’ Timing
Facing questions over the sheer volume of withdrawals, England boss Thomas Tuchel admitted the timing looked “suspicious” but insisted the injuries to his players were genuine. Speaking to talkSPORT, he stressed that medical tests had been conducted and the risk of exacerbating the issues was too great.
“Everyone can do the math and it’s a lot of players, of course,” Tuchel said. “During the situation, it looks a bit suspicious but I can only talk for our players. I still have 100% trust in the honesty of Bukayo and Declan. I have no reason to believe that Declan is not honest with me. I have no reason to believe Bukayo is not honest. But given the amount of Arsenal players, I understand the look.”
Tuchel confirmed that Jude Bellingham would not be risked against Japan as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, but indicated he would field a strong side after the experimental lineup laboured against Uruguay. He is considering a start for Ben White at right-back as his squad begins its final phase of preparation before the World Cup opener against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on June 17.
