Super Eagles icon’s warning snubbed as Ghana part ways with Addo before World Cup

Ghana’s Football Association has decided to ignore Victor Ikpeba’s plea as former Borussia Dortmund star Otto Addo is dismissed as Black Stars coach after a poor run of results, Afrik-Foot reports.

Former Nigeria forward Ikpeba had urged Ghanaian fans to remain calm over the Black Stars’ poor form, drawing on his own experience from the 1998 FIFA World Cup to make his point.

Ghana had endured a difficult run in friendly matches, including a heavy 5-1 defeat to Austria and a 2-1 loss to Germany. But Ikpeba insisted such results should not lead to panic, recalling how Nigeria struggled in the build-up to France 1998 before impressing on the global stage.

Speaking on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, Ikpeba said: “Ghana are one of the great countries of African football. If you look at the statistics in the few World Cups they have been involved in, it has not been fantastic.

“Remember when they did not qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations; it was fire on the mountain in Ghana and for the young manager.

“He was my teammate in Dortmund, and I give credit to the Ghana FA president for keeping faith with him. Somebody will have to be careful not to win too many friendly games.”

Ikpeba, who played under Bora Milutinović during that 1998 campaign, pointed to Nigeria’s poor preparation as proof that results in friendlies do not always define tournament outcomes.

“We had a very chaotic preparation for the 1998 World Cup, and we lost most of our friendly games, yet we won our first two games at the World Cup.

“The Ghanaian fans should be a little bit calm. Yes, it’s a prestige match. It’s not because you lose 5-1 that it becomes the end of the road for this team.

“They will learn some lessons from it, and it might be positive for them going forward in subsequent friendly matches. They will get their mojo back, and they will do well in the next World Cup.”

Ghana act swiftly as Addo is dismissed

Despite that public backing, Ghana moved quickly in the opposite direction by dismissing head coach Otto Addo just days after the defeat to Germany.

The decision followed five straight losses in friendly matches, a run that raised concerns with the Ghana Football Association ahead of the World Cup.

In a brief statement, the federation said: “The Association wishes to thank Otto Addo sincerely for his contribution to the team and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

“The Ghana Football Association will communicate the new technical direction of the Black Stars in due course.”

Addo leaves two years into his second spell in charge, having returned after stepping down following the 2022 World Cup. During that tournament, Ghana secured a notable win over South Korea but failed to progress beyond the group stage.

His departure comes just 72 days before the start of the next World Cup, where Ghana are due to face Panama, England and Croatia in the group stage.