Ghana’s Black Stars team manager, Ameenu Shardow, has strongly defended head coach Otto Addo, arguing that despite disappointing results, the team’s overall performances have demonstrated significant progress.
Shardow’s comments come in the wake of Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, ending a 20-year streak of consistent participation.
Highlighting Addo’s capabilities, Shardow pointed to Ghana’s unexpected victory against Mali in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which reignited the nation’s hopes of securing a spot in the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
"This same inexperienced person started very well, went to Mali when nobody expected us and won in Mali. His first games were against Nigeria and Uganda, and he didn’t win them—was that a new-boy syndrome?" Shardow questioned, addressing criticisms of Addo’s inexperience.
Drawing comparisons to Premier League managers like Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Shardow emphasized the importance of patience and long-term planning, urging stakeholders not to judge solely by immediate results.
"If you look at the parameters, you don’t go looking at results only," he said, advocating for a broader evaluation of Addo’s tenure.
Shardow argued that Ghana’s performances were strong enough to top the qualification group if judged purely on gameplay rather than outcomes.
"If we are going to be honest and factual, Ghana was supposed to top the group if we are only looking at the performance," he concluded.
Despite the setback, Shardow remains optimistic about Addo’s ability to lead the Black Stars to success in future competitions.