Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has defended the decision to dismiss Otto Addo ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting Ghana could not head into the tournament relying solely on hope after a series of disappointing results.

Otto Addo was relieved of his duties despite guiding the Black Stars to World Cup qualification, following an underwhelming run in international friendlies leading up to the tournament in North America.

With just two months before the competition, the Ghana Football Association appointed experienced Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz on a short-term contract.

Speaking in an interview, Adams dismissed claims that Ghana should have retained Otto Addo despite the team’s poor form before the World Cup.

“No,” the Minister said when asked if the former coach should have remained in charge.

“If you look at the losses that we were suffering in all your friendlies post the qualifications. If you just couldn’t trust only in God, then it means we’re going to the World Cup trusting only in God. No, I don’t think so at all.”

Adams maintained that Queiroz’s brief spell in charge demonstrated the value of the coaching change, even though the veteran tactician had limited time to prepare the squad.

“If you watch the strategy of the new coach, Carlos, and you look at our friendlies that we came against Wales, and our performance against Panama, and our performance against England, and even against Croatia, you could see clearly that given much more time, a lot more could have been.”

According to the Minister, the most noticeable improvement under Queiroz was Ghana’s defensive organisation.

“It was simply defensive,” he explained.

Responding to criticism that the Black Stars adopted an overly defensive approach by “parking the bus,” Adams argued that the tactical setup was necessary and effective.

“Well, it was also part of the game, and we were stringing passes.”

Under Carlos Queiroz as the head coach of the Black Stars, Ghana opened their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama before earning an impressive goalless draw against England.

A 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final group match saw the Black Stars finish third, but they still progressed to the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.

Their campaign, however, ended in the knockout stage following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.

The Black Stars will now turn their attention to qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana have been drawn in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and The Gambia, with the qualification campaign set to begin in September.