Ghana coach Otto Addo defends players from insults

Sports/ Football (Kumasi, Ghana) Sep 5 (Futball Surgery Sports)- Ghana boss Otto Addo has issued a strong message to fans who insult players, urging them to completely refrain from such behaviour.

He believes that some players’ decisions to decline national team invitations are influenced by the abuse they receive from certain fans.

Addo’s comments come in response to the ongoing absence of left-back Baba Rahman, who has not played for Ghana in over a year despite performing well in Greece.

The coach admitted that the former Chelsea defender is currently uninterested in representing the national team, likely due to the negative treatment he has received.

While Addo welcomes constructive criticism, he stressed the importance of avoiding insults. “You can criticize me when I am wrong; when things are not working for the players, you can criticize them too. But what is wrong is for you or the fans to insult the players,” he said.

He added, “They have family, they have kids, they have friends, wives, and when they see these insults, they feel it. It gets to them. No player comes to the national team on their own; coaches invite them. So, I am saying that it is our responsibility to condemn any act that aims to put players in a bad light.”

Addo’s remarks come ahead of Ghana’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Angola in Kumasi on Thursday.

Ghana have failed to qualify out of the group stage in the last two AFCON finals. Ghana hope to rebuild under Otto Addo but the project hasn’t succeeded. Ghana remain unbeaten in the last three games including two in World Cup qualifiers that send the Black Stars to top of Group I.

Ghana have been stretched, after the first half, by Angola in opener of 2025 AFCON qualifiers at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.