Ghanaian football icon George Alhassan has expressed disappointment with the assistant coaches of the Black Stars, John Paintsil and Joseph Laumann, for their lack of support towards head coach Otto Addo during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The Black Stars had a dismal campaign, failing to secure a single victory in their six matches against Sudan, Angola, and Niger in Group F. This marked the first time in two decades that Ghana did not qualify for the AFCON and the ninth time since their debut in 1963.
Reflecting on the team’s poor performance, Alhassan pointed fingers at the assistant coaches for not effectively working with Otto Addo.
In an interview with Citi Sports, Alhassan suggested that the lack of unity within the technical team played a significant role in the team’s failure.
“They should have done better because I don’t see that they are helping the coach himself. If you are a coach and you have a technical team, you work together with them. Or maybe they are afraid to suggest to the coach, so they sit and watch him. But if they worked together, I don’t think things like this would have happened,” Alhassan remarked.
Looking ahead, the Black Stars will now shift their focus to the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they aim to secure their fifth appearance at the global tournament.
Despite facing criticism for his leadership, reports suggest that Otto Addo may retain his position as head coach. However, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has not made an official statement regarding his future.
It remains to be seen how the Black Stars will regroup and strive for success in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, as they look to put their disappointing AFCON campaign behind them and aim for a spot at the prestigious tournament.
