Stephen Appiah urges Black Stars coach Otto Addo ‘to be the boss’

Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah is encouraging newly appointed national team coach Otto Addo to assert his authority as he takes full charge of the team.

Otto Addo, formerly a talent coach at Borussia Dortmund, has named his first squad as Black Stars coach, a move that has sparked considerable debate.

The omission of captain Andre Ayew from the squad has been particularly notable, with some commending Addo’s bold decision while others speculate that it was influenced by external pressures.

Stephen Appiah, who played alongside Addo in the 2006 World Cup, believes the coach must remain independent and authoritative in his decisions.

“He should let the players know that he is the boss. This is the situation where you have to put your foot down. I was with him in 2006, and he knows how important the World Cup is to Ghanaians,” Appiah told 3Sports.

Under former coach Chris Hughton, Ghana managed a win against Madagascar but suffered a loss to Comoros, leaving them fourth in Group I of the CAF World Cup qualifiers with three points, trailing Comoros, Mali, and Madagascar.

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Addo is now tasked with turning the team’s fortunes around as they prepare for crucial matches against Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana will begin their training camp on Thursday before traveling to Bamako, Mali, for the match on June 6, and then returning to Kumasi to face the Central African Republic.

The Black Stars currently sit fourth in their group, and the upcoming fixtures are critical for their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.