President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Ben Nunoo Mensah has voiced his belief that Kwesi Appiah would have been a better choice than Otto Addo as the Black Stars’ head coach for the team’s third coaching stint.
After resigning following Ghana’s disappointing early exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Otto Addo was reappointed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in March for a three-year term with a potential two-year extension.
Despite starting his second tenure with positive results, including consecutive victories over Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Addo has faced significant criticism.
His inability to lead the Black Stars to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has fueled widespread discontent, with Ghana finishing at the bottom of Group F with just three points from six matches. This performance has led to increased calls for his dismissal.
Nunoo Mensah, commenting on the situation, expressed disappointment over the decision not to rehire Kwesi Appiah after Chris Hughton’s departure following Ghana’s group-stage elimination in the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.
“I think that in so many years, Kwasi Appiah has been one of Ghana’s best coaches, and it was sad we got him out in that manner,” he told Asempa FM.
“Also, when there was an opportunity to appoint him again, we overlooked him. For me, because we are constrained by financial difficulties, we should look within ourselves.”
He pointed out that most of Ghana’s AFCON victories have come under local coaches, emphasizing the potential for local talent to reach international standards and show greater commitment to the national cause.
“Most of the AFCON titles we won were with Ghanaian coaches, so why don’t we look within ourselves and build people to the level of Pep Guardiola and co.? Those local coaches will be more committed to the nation,” he added.
Kwesi Appiah first led the Black Stars from 2012 to 2014 and was reappointed from 2017 to 2020. During his first stint, he notably became the first Ghanaian coach to lead the team to qualify for the World Cup in 2014.
Otto Addo’s position remains uncertain as the GFA’s Executive Council deliberates on the next steps following Ghana’s failure to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON.
