Otto Addo, the coach of the Ghana national team, has emphasized that rebuilding the Black Stars is a gradual process, noting that the team’s performance was subpar even before his return. After previously leading the team to the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Addo resumed his role earlier in March.
Despite his successful tenure in the past, the 47-year-old’s second stint has faced challenges, with the Black Stars failing to secure a victory in their recent matches against Nigeria and Uganda.
Reflecting on the team’s performance in March, Addo highlighted the need for improvement in finishing and acknowledged the significant effort required to rebuild the squad. He noted, “It’s a process; finishing must be better under pressure. It’s a lot of work, but I have to say this is what I expected because… we were not good even before I came.”
Additionally, Addo expressed concern over the team’s discipline after they received three red cards in the friendly matches against Nigeria and Uganda. The 2-1 defeat to Nigeria saw the Black Stars finish the game with ten men following Jerome Opoku’s red card.
In their subsequent match against Uganda, Ghana was held to a 2-2 draw, with Mohammed Salisu and Alidu Seidu both receiving red cards late in the game.
Addressing the disciplinary issues, Addo stressed the importance of playing intelligently on the pitch to avoid unnecessary cards. He stated, “The discipline on the pitch to play good, play hard. Play hard but intelligent and not get silly yellow and red cards is something we have to address and work on.”
Despite the challenges, Addo expressed disappointment with the team’s overall performance, particularly in creating scoring opportunities, especially in the final third of the pitch. He emphasized the need for better finishing and admitted that the current level of play was not up to his expectations.
Looking ahead, the Black Stars are set to resume action in June for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they will face Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR). These upcoming matches will be crucial for the team’s progression and will require a concerted effort to improve their performance.
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