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Ghana sack coach after Germany World Cup warm-up loss
AP • March 31st, 2026 3:54 pm
Otto Addo will not be leading Ghana at this year's World Cup after a second loss in four days | Photo: EPA
Ghana have parted ways with coach Otto Addo, with 72 days remaining until the kick-off to the 2026 World Cup.
The country's football association (GFA) made the announcement a few hours after Tuesday's (Wednesday AEDT) 2-1 defeat to Germany in Stuttgart, days after they lost 5-1 in Austria.
"The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have parted ways with the head coach of the senior men's national team (Black Stars), Otto Addo effective immediately," it said in a statement.
Former Borussia Dortmund player Addo, appointed in March 2024, failed to qualify Ghana for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite having Premier League players Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus in his squad.
He won eight matches and lost nine in 22 games in charge.
Ghana, who reached the World Cup for the fifth time, are in Group L along with Croatia, England and Panama.
Deniz Undav meantime turned up the pressure on Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann to select him for the World Cup after he scored the winner to back up strong club form.
Undav hadn't played for Germany since last June but seven goals in his last six Bundesliga games helped him earn a recall. Germany were playing at the home stadium of his club Stuttgart and fans chanted for Undav long before he came off the bench.
Deniz Undav (13) gave home fans plenty to cheer about in Stuttgart | Photo: EPA
The game seemed to be fizzling out to a draw when he flicked the ball over Ghana's goalkeeper in the 88th minute to give Germany a seventh successive win.
Ghana's Abdul Fatuwu earlier scored on the counter to cancel out Kai Havertz's penalty.
"A perfect evening. It was amazing to hear this support from the fans," Undav said.
"I came in and scored the goal but what is more important is that we won the game because otherwise it does not mean much."
German fans are hoping their skipper will be holding the World Cup trophy in New Jersey in July | Photo: AP
After Florian Wirtz's spectacular attacking display in a 4-3 win in Switzerland on Saturday, Havertz put the hosts ahead with his penalty just before halftime after Jonas Adjetey blocked a shot with his arm.
Ghana levelled in the 70th when Germany-born Derrick Koehn surged down the left flank, beat defender Josha Vagnoman and crossed low for Fatawu to score.
Germany have further pre-World Cup friendlies against Finland in May and co-hosts the United States in June before facing Curacao, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E action.
In other action involving World Cup finalists, first-timers Uzbekistan drew 0-0 with Venezuela in Tashkent before winning a penalty shootout 5-4.
