Black Stars coach Otto Addo didn’t hold back in expressing his frustration. Reflecting on the Niger game in particular, Addo’s disappointment was evident.
“I was really disappointed and also pissed after the Niger game,” he began, his voice carrying the weight of frustration. It wasn’t just about the result; it was the manner in which the team had performed that gnawed at him. The expectations were high, and the loss stung deeply. “We should’ve done better, and I knew the players felt that too. It wasn’t the performance we wanted.”
The match against Angola, however, brought a more nuanced reflection. Addo was careful to separate the two experiences, understanding that while both matches had ended in disappointment, the contexts were different.
“For the Angola game, I think we have to see it separately,” he noted thoughtfully. “Although it’s the result that counts in the end, sometimes you play very well, you create chances, but you don’t score, and your opponent gets just one or two opportunities and they punish you.”
Addo, drawing from his own experiences as a player, understood the cruel nature of football. A game can be dominated by one team, but a moment of brilliance or a defensive lapse can completely change the narrative.
“It has happened to me before as a player,” he added, recalling moments from his own playing days when the team had played superbly only to fall short. “You do everything right, you execute the plan, but football is about margins. Angola capitalized on theirs, and we didn’t.”
Despite the obvious frustration, Addo’s words were grounded in the reality of football—a game where sometimes effort and skill don’t always translate to victory. It’s a bitter pill, but one he’s had to swallow before.
Looking forward, Addo remains hopeful and pragmatic. “You take the lessons from these games and move forward. But yes, that Niger game—it hurt.”
Otto Addo’s reflection is a candid glimpse into the mind of a coach who is as passionate as he is pragmatic, ever mindful of the fine line between success and failure in the world of football.