Charles Akonnor Withdraws from Consideration for Ghana Coach Position Following Otto Addo’s Tenure

In a significant move, the West African nation dismissed Otto Addo from his role as head coach of the Black Stars, leaving just over two months before the prestigious tournament. This decision followed a 2-1 defeat against Germany in Stuttgart, marking Ghana’s fourth consecutive loss in warm-up matches, which included a heavy 5-1 defeat to Austria.

“The Ghana Football Association has mutually agreed to part ways with Otto Addo, head coach of the senior men’s national team (Black Stars), effective immediately,” stated a release on the official Ghana FA website.

In the wake of Addo’s exit, numerous candidates have emerged as potential replacements for the 50-year-old, who was undertaking his second term at the helm of the Black Stars. Under his leadership, the team reached the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and secured qualification for the upcoming tournament.

Akonnor, who previously managed the Black Stars from 2020 to 2021, was quickly touted as a frontrunner for the vacant position.

The 52-year-old, who earned 51 caps for Ghana and netted 13 goals, has firmly ruled himself out of the running for the role.

‘I’m committed to Gor Mahia’

“My commitment is with Gor Mahia. I’m very content here and we’re performing well,” Akonnor declared to the media when asked about Ghana’s vacant coaching role following his team’s FKF Premier League match against Kariobangi Sharks at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.

“We’re striving for the title, and that’s my priority—nothing else takes precedence. I have previously had the honour of coaching the national team, and I view any interest as a positive reflection.

“It’s heartening to see, as a Ghanaian, my love for my country and national team is strong. I will support them during the World Cup, but my primary focus remains on Gor Mahia.”

Akonnor began his tenure with Kenya’s record champions on a two-year contract on August 1, 2025, tasked with enhancing the team’s performance following a disappointing, trophy-less campaign in the 2024-25 season.

Currently, under Akonnor’s guidance, Gor Mahia sits atop the FKF Premier League standings with 57 points from 26 matches, leading AFC Leopards by two points, who have 55 points from 27 encounters.

Despite the draw against Sharks, Akonnor, who kicked off his coaching journey in Ghana with Young Hearts, later moving to Okwawu United and Obuasi Goldfields, remains optimistic that Gor Mahia is on track to reclaim the league title.

“The match could have swung either way. Sharks had opportunities, and any team could have suffered defeat. Therefore, I believe the draw was a fair result,” Akonnor noted.

“Their side presented strong challenges, making it difficult for us to find our rhythm. The first half was below par, but we aimed to come back stronger in the second half, though that wasn’t achieved.

“One point is acceptable; it’s a fair outcome. Nonetheless, I was not entirely satisfied with our performance. The silver lining is that we managed to avoid a loss. We should accept the result wholeheartedly, take the point, and prepare for our upcoming matches.”

Looking ahead, the Black Stars will embark on their World Cup campaign in Group L, facing off against Panama, England, and Croatia.

The tournament is set to occur from June 11 to July 19, co-hosted by 16 cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

This World Cup marks a significant milestone, being the first to be shared by three nations and the first involving an expanded format of 48 teams, up from the previous 32.