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0 Ghanaian coach Christopher Nimley has warned that the Black Stars are “sitting on a time bomb” under head coach Otto Addo as the team prepares for the FIFA World Cup.
He insists urgent action is needed to avert what he believes could be a disastrous campaign.
Speaking on the Jupay Podcast, Nimley argued that Ghana is heading into the global tournament without a clear technical identity, without adequate competitive assessment and with what he described as one of the weakest benches among participating nations.
“For the fact that he has given us no opportunity whatsoever to properly assess our team before going for the World Cup, we are only sitting on a time bomb waiting to explode. The AFCON should have been the yardstick for Ghana to assess the Black Stars ahead of the World Cup,” Nimley said.
Otto Addo, a former Ghana international, first took charge of the Black Stars on an interim basis in early 2022 after Ghana’s disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
He led the team through the crucial two-legged World Cup playoff against Nigeria, guiding Ghana to qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on the away goals rule.
After the tournament in Qatar, Addo stepped down, citing family reasons and his club commitments in Germany.
However, he was later reappointed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to lead a rebuilding effort to restore confidence in the national team after inconsistent performances and early tournament exits in recent years.
His second stint has been defined by attempts to refresh the squad, integrate younger players and rebuild cohesion. Yet results and performances have continued to divide opinion among fans and pundits.
Despite Otto Addo’s qualification record, Nimley insists the current technical direction lacks depth and pedigree.
“I would sack Coach Otto Addo immediately if I had my way. The Black Stars job is so attractive and lucrative that once I open the market for that job, you will see the quality.
“He himself knew from day one that he wouldn’t be chosen for the job. When the application was opened, he knew he was not qualified for the job and did not apply. He did not apply; he was told to apply for it,” he claimed.
He maintained that he has consistently doubted Addo’s suitability for the position and his ability to lead the Black Stars to the 2026 World Cup.
Central to Nimley’s argument is his belief that Ghana has lacked a credible, competitive benchmark to test the squad’s readiness for the World Cup.
He described the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as the ideal platform for evaluating team structure, tactical strength and squad depth ahead of the global tournament. In his view, the absence of a convincing AFCON performance leaves too many unanswered questions.
“I am not convinced that the current team is good enough. I have looked not only at our group in the World Cup, but also compared our technical team to nearly 90 per cent of the teams in the World Cup, and our bench is one of the weakest going into the tournament. There’s no pedigree, no establishment,” Nimley said.
When asked what should be done at this stage, Nimley’s response was blunt.
“Sack him.”
He pointed to historical precedents, recalling how former GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi dismissed Kwesi Appiah shortly before the 2015 AFCON and appointed Avram Grant – a move that saw Ghana reach the tournament’s final.
“We saw Kwesi Nyantakyi sack Kwesi Appiah two and a half weeks to AFCON and bring in a quality coach in Avram Grant, and we went all the way to the finals. But for luck, we would have won that AFCON.”
He also cited examples from the continent, referencing coaching changes involving the Algeria and Ivory Coast national teams before or during AFCON tournaments that ultimately ended in title triumphs.
Otto Addo’s tenure has unfolded under significant pressure, with public debate often split between those who credit him for steering Ghana back to the World Cup and those who question the team’s tactical evolution and consistency.
With the World Cup approaching, Nimley’s “time bomb” warning adds fresh intensity to ongoing conversations about leadership, preparedness and national expectations.
Whether the Ghana Football Association stands by its man or reconsiders its approach, the scrutiny of Otto Addo and the Black Stars is only set to intensify as the countdown to the World Cup continues.
