AFCON 2025 failure: Otto Addo cites disunity, injuries and late player arrival as cause

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has pointed to disunity within the squad, injury setbacks, and the late arrival of players as some of the  reasons for Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

During a meeting with the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Executive Council, Addo reportedly detailed the challenges that hampered the team’s qualification campaign.

The coach highlighted disunity as a significant factor, expressing concerns about the lack of cohesion and camaraderie among the players, which he believes affected team performance and morale during crucial matches. According to 3 sports, he cited that his management of the captaincy issue brought disunity.

Addo also emphasized the impact of injuries to key players like Semenyo and Williams at critical stages of the qualifiers, limiting his tactical options and reducing the team’s overall competitiveness.

Additionally, the late arrival of some players for training camps and matches was flagged as a disruptive factor. The timing issues reportedly affected preparations, undermining the team’s readiness for crucial fixtures.