Otto Addo will return to become the next head coach of Ghana, 15 months after he left his post.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed that they have offered Addo a 34-month contract with the option to extend for a further two years.
In a statement, GFA president Kurt Okraku said that “Otto was exceptional in the interview process and was rated highly by the search committee, hence the decision”.
He added: “There were some brilliant individuals among the coaches who applied for the job, so the committee took the pain to interview a chunk of them to pick their thoughts on their intentions to transform the team within a short period of time due to our peculiar situation.
“The committee was overly satisfied with Otto’s performance for which reason he was recommended to the Executive Council for approval.”
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Ghana, a footballing nation in turmoil after another AFCON failure
Addo had been working as a talent coach at Borussia Dortmund, and the Bundesliga club said that he would leave his position in the summer. They have also confirmed they will release the 48-year-old for the upcoming international break, and he will then return to Germany.
“I know that for Otto, despite his long-standing connection to BVB, the national team was always something very special,” Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said.
“We have already supported him in the past to be able to work for his country and we definitely don’t want to deny him the chance to become head coach. In Otto we will lose an excellent coach and great person. Nevertheless, I am happy for him and am sure that he will give his best for BVB until the summer and that we will remain in close contact beyond that.”
Ghana have been without a coach since sacking former head coach Chris Hughton following their exit at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January.
Hughton was sacked after Ghana’s poor display at AFCON (ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Hughton’s side failed to win any of their three group-stage matches at AFCON, picking up just two points and finishing third in Group B.
Addo, meanwhile, had been appointed as one of Ghana’s two deputies for the then-coach Milovan Rajevac in September 2021.
He became the interim coach of Ghana in March 2022 and guided them to the Qatar World Cup finals after drawing 1–1 against Nigeria.
However, after finishing bottom of Group H at the World Cup, Addo confirmed that he would leave his post following their elimination from the tournament.
Ghana play Nigeria in an international friendly on March 22, followed by a match against Uganda four days later.
(Richard Sellers/Getty Images)
