Former Ghana international Hans Sarpei has dismissed concerns over the Black Stars’ poor run of friendly results, insisting that the team’s jerky form in preparation matches should not overshadow Otto Addo’s achievement of qualifying for the World Cup.
Ghana lost four consecutive friendlies, with the most recent defeat to Germany leading to Addo’s dismissal. The former Borussia Dortmund scout had been under scrutiny despite securing Ghana’s ticket to the 2026 World Cup, following the nation’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nationsâthe first absence in two decades.
Speaking to JoySports, Sarpei argued that Addo deserved to lead the team to the global tournament.
“When we didn’t qualify for the AFCON, there was a lot of shouting. Then he qualified us for the World Cup. He brought the team to the World Cup; he should go with the team. World Cup and friendly games are totally different,” Sarpei said.
The former Ghana international’s comments highlight a debate over the weight placed on friendly performances versus competitive achievements.
While the four-match losing streak raised alarms, Sarpei believes the circumstances of friendliesâoften used for experimentationâdo not reflect how a team will perform when the stakes are highest.
With Addo now dismissed, the Ghana Football Association is searching for a successor. Former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, ex-Morocco coach Walid Regragui, and Saudi Arabia boss Hervé Renard are among the names linked to the vacant position.
The Black Stars will travel to North America for friendlies against Mexico on May 22 and Wales on June 2 before opening their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto. Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.
