Following recent ankle surgery, Ghanaian attacker Mohammed Fuseini was visited by Black Stars head coach Otto Addo.
Playing for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the Belgian champions, Fuseini sustained the injury earlier this season and has been out since.
The setback occurred after he made an impression for Ghana, scoring against Trinidad & Tobago in the Unity Cup in May, demonstrating his increasing impact on the national squad.
Due to the injury, he was unable to play in Ghana’s June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Chad and Mali, which ended in mixed results for the Black Stars. They drew 1-1 with Chad on the road before defeating Mali 1-0 at Accra.
He has made just two club appearances this season and missed Union Saint-Gilloise’s UEFA Champions League debut against PSV Eindhoven. However, his colleagues’ incredible 3-1 triumph away at the Philips Stadion represented their first group-stage appearance.
One of the most impressive players of the previous season, Fuseini helped Union Saint-Gilloise win the Belgian league for the first time in ninety years and earn a spot in Europe’s top division.
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Otto Addo spoke to us prior to our 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Chad in N’djamena.
Otto Addo provided an update on players like Alexander Djiku, Joseph Painstil, Derrick Kohn, Mohammed Kudus, and Mohammed during the conversation at Hotel L’Amitie. He also evaluated our opponents for Matchday 7.
See our transcript below to hear all he had to say.
Nothing much, I think we had a good training today. Everybody is healthy, training looks sharp, so I’m very, very happy.
Otto Addo On playing on an Astroturf
Yeah, so, yeah, I’m really, surprised that they have allowed this pitch for an international match. The pitch is really, really not good. It’s very, very hard for the players, it’s like playing on concrete. But yeah, what can we do? We have to take it as it comes and we are prepared. We observed everything today. Like I said, it’s not a good AstroTurf, to be honest. Nowadays, there are far better Astroturf’s, which are also much healthier for the players.
Otto Addo On Chad
We’re excited, looking forward to that match. We know it’s going to be tough to play away in Africa, it’s always tough. Now, also under these circumstances, it will be different because the players are not used to playing on artificial grass. But let’s see, I think we are mentally prepared. And like I said, the boys look good and sharp on the pitch today. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to the match tomorrow.
Otto Addo On players’ mentality
Yeah, it’s a special moment, I think, for the country. But like I said, we have to really be focused on the game. We blend everything else out and we know what our aim is. Our aim is to qualify for the World Cup. And if we beat Chad, we’re getting closer. So, we do everything we can to win this match.
Otto Addo On absence of Joseph Painstil and Alexander Djiku
They are important players, that is why I have invited them. But yeah, like I said, we have to take it as it comes. Surely, full understanding for Djiku, he has to find a club for the future, and he has to do the medical check. So, there’s nothing we can do about that. And yeah, with Joseph, it’s always difficult, you know, traveling from America, especially from Los Angeles, It’s very, very far. And sometimes if there’s one delay in any flight, you can’t get the connection flight. And this is what happened to him. And unfortunately, he can’t be joining us. But I’m looking forward to the next game, also for him to be part of the team.
Otto Addo On taking one game at a time
Sure, we have to take it as it comes. Anything else doesn’t make sense. We have to do our homeworks now here in Chad. We have to win this match to keep those who are behind us in their place, at least with the same points behind us. And if we are a little bit lucky, we can even extend the points. So we have to do our homework. And the worst thing we can do is to underrate Chad. I hear a lot of people talking about Chad as if they’re not that good. And yeah, it’s an easy win. People are already talking about the World Cup, but I think this is the biggest mistake we could do, to underrate a team, to think we have already made it. No, it’s hard work. It’s going to be very, very hard tomorrow. It’s going to be tough. The game is on an astro turf. It’s a different terrain. And they are at home. The fans will be cheering for them. So it’s going to be difficult. Nowadays in football, there are no more small teams. And I know that surely if we get an early goal or so, it can be easier. But in football, anything can happen. And like I said, we don’t have to underrate them. We have to be focused. We have to be concentrated and we have to believe in ourselves.
Otto Addo On Ghana being favourites on paper
Sure, sure. I mean, like I said, we’re very close, but we’re not there yet. And yeah, I just try to emphasise to the players that they have to work even harder now. Nobody should relax or think it will go by itself. It’s hard work, hard work. And for this, we have to be very, very sharp and focus and to push each other. And then I think if we do so, we will get the right results. I like it this way rather than the other way around.
Otto Addo On having Ghanaian players hit form at club level
Really, a lot of Ghanaians are doing good all over the world, and it’s really, really not easy. And yeah, we have a good team. We watch a lot of matches. We observe. We try to find out which player fits to our playing style. And yeah, like I said, I think and I hope we made the right decision at the moment. But surely there are a lot of other players which haven’t been called. And we’re always looking at their performance at the club and surely also the performance which they had here. And yeah, this keeps it very, very positive. Like I said, I like it more this way. I like them to make it difficult for me to decide who will come to the national team than the other way around. That we are lacking players and we’re trying to look who can even play the standards. And I’m very, very happy that the situation is how it is now.
Otto Addo On Derrick Kohn
Yeah, I’m happy for him that he made it into the squad. And to make it step by step. And he just changed the club to Union Berlin in Hamburg in the German Bundesliga. And his performance there also, it’s important for me to see which standard he has at the moment. He came from Galatasaray. I think he had a good season last year. And yeah, he has to keep it up. There’s concurrence on each position. And yeah, let’s see what will happen.
Otto Addo On Kamal Deen, Thomas, Kudus, Tariq and Ibrahim Osman changing clubs and what it means to the team
Yeah, I think in general, every player should look to challenge himself. And if you have the possibility to play on a higher stage or on a better team, you will prove yourself. And this is also aplus for the national team. And once Kudus improves, because Tottenham is a stronger team than West Ham, it’s better for us because it will challenge him more every day in training, but also in the games. Once Ibrahim Osman improves, playing from the Dutch league, going to Ligue 1, which I think, is a bit tougher, in general, it will improve him because he will develop even more. And he has to find strategies to succeed in that league. And that will also, at the end, help the national team. So, I’m very happy that the players are making these kind of movements and changes just to develop and improve themselves. And at the end, if each individual will improve and develop even more to a higher stage, the national team will benefit from it.
Otto Addo’s tactical setup is praised by Jerome Opoku following his competitive Ghana debut.
In his first competitive game, Ghanaian defender Jerome Opoku has attributed his smooth transition into the Black Stars’ starting lineup to coach Otto Addo’s tactical changes.
In Ghana’s game against Madagascar, the 26-year-old was given a starting position and played in a 3-5-2 configuration instead of the previous 4-1-4-1 one. He just had one training session to get used to it, but he gave a confident performance in the back.
“I would say I was a little surprised to start against Madagascar, but as I said, I had always worked and looked forward to my time here,” Opoku told Flashscore.
His easy adjustment was greatly aided by his experience with a comparable setup at the Turkish club Basaksehir. He clarified, “It was easy for me because we’ve played with a three-back in my club a couple of times this season, so it was quite easy to settle in.”
Opoku also emphasized the significance of the coaching staff’s preparations, which made sure the players had a smooth transition. “It also helped really well because the coaches from Ghana really worked through it and came up with a clear plan for everyone to adopt,” he said.
With previous experience as a left-back during his time at Fulham’s academy, Opoku’s versatility adds depth to Ghana’s defense. His solid display contributed to a 3-0 victory over Madagascar, following a dominant 5-0 win against Chad. The Black Stars now sit three points clear at the top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
Black Stars coach Otto Addo cautioned Ghanaians that the job of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is not done.
The Ghana Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo, has warned the team and Ghanaians about the thought that they have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup after the 3-0 win over Madagascar.
Black Star made a great effort to secure 6 points in their last two games, giving them the lead in Group I. Against Madagascar they managed to keep another clean sheet; goals were scored by Thomas Parteyand Mohammed Kudus, with Jordan Ayew assisting all the goals on the night.
However, Addo insists the team must remain focused.
“We are in a good position [to qualify for the 2026 World Cup], but this is also dangerous,” Addo said at the post-match press conference.
“Now, I am thinking about how to keep our heads focused [because] the job is not done. Maybe if Comoros wins, it’s just a three-point gap ahead of Comoros, and it’s still a long way to go. We have to stay focused. If anyone thinks we are through, then he’s making a big mistake.”
With four games to end the qualifiers, Addo stressed the need for his players to maintain their concentration and avoid complacency.
“I have seen a lot of football, a lot of things happening, and we have to stay focused. I am happy, but like I said, the job is really not done,” he reiterated.
After Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, former Black Stars management committee member Ernest Thompson has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to fire Otto Addo and his technical staff.
The senior national team’s failure to qualify for the tournament, which will be held in Morocco next year, has raised questions over the 47-year-old’s future.
Ghana ended at the bottom of Group F with three draws and three losses after six games played, with 0 wins.
To decide on the former Borussia Dortmund talent coach’s future, the GFA Executive Council will convene on Wednesday, November 27.
Thompson criticized the players and the technical staff in an interview with Joy Sports, calling the Black Stars’ current situation intolerable.
“For me, the problem is two-fold. We have a bad technical team. They are not up to the task if they are to lead us in the next five years because Ghanaians don’t have the patience to wait for a coach who is young and still learning,” he stated.
“Otto Addo has done his best. At times, you promote people to their level of competence, and beyond that, they cannot do much. He’s done his best, and I think at this stage, he and his technical team should go,” Thompson said emphatically.
In addition, Thompson voiced worries about the Black Stars’ lack of cohesion, characterizing the group as a collection of individuals rather than a unified whole.
“That team you’re calling the Black Stars is not a team; it is a group of individuals who are very conflictual. There’s so much conflict in that team. Kurt [Okraku] and the rest should take responsibility for keeping things to themselves,” he noted.
He went further to highlight the extent of the division among the players, claiming that spiritualism and internal conflicts are undermining the team’s performance.
“There’s spiritualism in that team; there’s conflict in that team. They only come and stand on the pitch as if they are together. It’s not a football team we have there; it’s a group of individuals who are highly conflicted,” he said.
According to Kessben FM, Otto Addo, the head coach of the Black Stars, and his technical staff have not received their salaries for the last three months.
After a disappointing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Irish-Ghanaian coach Chris Hughton was replaced as national team coach in March 2024 by Otto Addo.
After nearly eight years, the former Ghanaian international left Borussia Dortmund to rejoin the Black Stars for a second stint.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) reportedly communicates directly with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to guarantee that Otto Addo’s technical staff is paid.
Under Otto Addo, the Black Stars had a miserable AFCON 2025 qualifying season, losing three games and drew three during that time.
The West African powerhouse’s chances of qualifying for the AFCON were ruined when they finished last in Group F after going six games without a victory.
For the first time in 20-years, the Black Stars will miss the Africa Cup of Nations after falling short in Group F. The last time Ghana failed to qualify for the CAF’s biggest event was back in 2004.
Otto Addo has been summoned by the Ghana FA for a crucial meeting on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
Ghanaians are being urged by Black Stars coach Otto Addo to support their country’s efforts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The team’s 1-1 tie with Angola last Friday prevented them from qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), prompting this appeal for assistance. Addo is resolved to move on to the next challenge and is still focused on the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers in spite of the setback.
“I recognize that people may be upset or dissatisfied. He told reporters on Sunday, “I was disappointed too, but we must move on now.”
“The World Cup qualifiers begin tomorrow, and we must prepare as best we can.
“You [Ghanaians] must support us if you want us to go to the World Cup,” he stated.
Ghana is currently tied with Comoros, the group leaders, in second position in Group I of the World Cup qualifying campaign. Only the group’s top team will move on to the elimination stage.
In the future, the Black Stars will play Madagascar and Chad in March 2025. Addo is adamant on being the first coach to guide the squad to consecutive World Cup appearances.
A prominent member of the committee that chose Otto Addo to be the Black Stars’ head coach, Ojo Addae-Mensah, has called for Addo to step down in the wake of Ghana’s exclusion from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
After Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Angola on Friday, November 15, Addae-Mensah spoke on GTV Sports Plus and said he was disappointed with the outcome, emphasizing that the coach should go because the team did not qualify for the AFCON.
“I believe Otto Addo ought to step down for failing to qualify for the AFCON. In response to mounting annoyance among football supporters and stakeholders, Addae-Mensah stated, “The least he could have done was to qualify us for the tournament.”
Ghana suffered a severe defeat when their dreams of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON were dashed by the draw against Angola. Angola equalized by a strong header by Zini in the second half, but Ghana was unable to maintain their lead despite a magnificent early goal by captain Jordan Ayew in the 19th minute.
Ghana’s final Group F match against Niger on Monday, November 18, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium, has become a formality since qualifying is now out of the question. With the outcome no longer affecting their position in the qualifications, the Black Stars will play for pride.
The upcoming match against Niger offers an opportunity for reflection and regrouping, but the focus will now shift to rebuilding the team after a disappointing qualification campaign.
When Ghana plays Angola in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, coach Otto Addo is focused on ending the Black Stars’ losing run.
The four-time AFCON champion Black Stars have lost two and drawn two of their four games and have yet to register a victory.
With just two points, the West African powerhouse is currently at the bottom of the standings and has little choice except to win their final two games and wait to see how their opponents play.
To increase their prospects of qualifying, Otto Addo and his team will try to surprise Angola in their home stadium when they play them on Friday.
The Black Stars must make sure they pick up as many points as possible in their final group games while hoping to defeat Sudan versus Angola the following week.
In the meantime, if the Black Stars lose to Angola, they might be eliminated from the AFCON tournament for the first time in 20 years.
The highly anticipated match between Ghana’s Black Stars and Angola’s Palancas Negras is set to begin at 19:00 GMT at the Estádio 11 de Novembro.
According to Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe, Head of Public Relations and Strategy at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Otto Addo has the organization’s support despite his recent subpar play.
The Black Stars’ dismal showing in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifications has put the 45-year-old trainer under a lot of pressure and criticism.
After four games without a victory, Ghana is currently in third place in Group F with just two points.
Although some football supporters have demanded that the former Ghanaian international be fired, Armstrong-Mortagbe asserts that the GFA fully supports Otto Addo.
He did, however, issue a warning, saying that the Executive Council anticipates the playing body will improve in future games.
In an interview with Metro TV, he stated, “The FA gave Otto Addo a long-term contract, and based on his early performances against Mali and the Central African Republic, we believe there is potential for growth for the nearly three years he was engaged for.”
“With the support of the FA and the Executive Council, he continues to be in control even though our AFCON qualifying series hasn’t gone as planned.
“We expect to see improvements in our upcoming World Cup qualifiers, indicating that what happened previously was an anomaly, not a trend,” he stated.
Ghana will resume their qualifiers next week and will aim to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco against all odds.
They will travel to Luanda to face Angola on November 15 at the Estádio 11 de Novembro, followed by a home match against Niger Republic three days later at the Accra Sports Stadium.
