World Cup (Q): Otto Addo elated to qualify Ghana for second time

World Cup (Q): Otto Addo elated to qualify Ghana for second time

World Cup (Q): Otto Addo elated to qualify Ghana for second time

Otto Addo became the first coach to qualify Ghana for two World Cup tournaments after they defeated Comoros 1-0 in their final qualifying match at Accra Stadium on Sunday.

The Black Stars were pushed all the way by Madagascar, but they punched their ticket to the global showpiece on the final day of qualifying after Mohammed Kudus struck for the winner against Comoros.

Addo, who led Ghana to Qatar 2022 in his first spell with the team, firmly believed that he was the right person to lead the revival. With the help of a new backroom staff, he has successfully guided the Black Stars through the African qualifying with 25 points from ten games in Group I.

Addo says it is a big achievement to qualify again

“For me, personally, it’s a big achievement. But to be honest, I think more about us. So, it’s good for us, for everyone. Every Ghanaian, it’s good for the players. Not only for me. So, this is the most important thing. It’s not a bad time, but also not a good time,” Addo told Ghana website after the Comoros game.

“It’s not about me. It’s about us. And it’s about the team. I’m happy for the players. And some players haven’t been there. And it’s a good opportunity. And so, I’m very, very happy for everyone.”

Asked what Ghana needs to do to succeed at the World Cup, he said: “We have to take it game by game, you know? People who are now talking about the World Cup, sorry, but we are nowhere close. The squad, I think, 2010 made the quarterfinals. And they had seven, eight players who were playing regularly in the Champions League or top level.

“We are not there yet. No, I think that we have to put together good players, work hard so that they can get to the top level. But those days, we had players playing for Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Fenerbahce. You don’t want me to share this class. As a regular player of Olympic Marseille, those days, they were like PSG.”

He added: “To play in this club as a regular player it’s massive. And if you look at our players, please, with all the respect, but we are not there. We’re not there. So, we need to take each game by game, and then we need to grow. And even at the last World Cup, we were very close.

“We had our chances to go to the next round. But this is also football. Sometimes, you know, you don’t use your chances, then this happens. So, it’s very, very important that we strengthen ourselves. We use the training games to strengthen ourselves, and then we take each game by game to get better.”

With Ghana on 25 points, Madagascar finished second on 19 points, while Mali came third on 18 points.

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