Former Ghana international Hans Sarpei has played down concerns over the Black Stars’ inconsistent form in recent friendly matches ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Ghana has lost four straight friendlies, with the latest defeat to Germany leading to the dismissal of head coach Otto Addo. The former Borussia Dortmund talent scout had been under mounting pressure despite guiding the team to World Cup qualification, particularly after Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations—their first absence in two decades.
Speaking in an interview with JoySports, Sarpei argued that Addo should have been retained, stressing that friendly matches are not a true reflection of a team’s competitive strength.
“When we didn’t qualify for the AFCON, there was a lot of criticism,” he said. “But he qualified the team for the World Cup. He brought them this far, so he should have been allowed to continue. Friendly games and World Cup matches are totally different.”
Following Addo’s departure, several high-profile names have been linked to the vacant role, including former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, current Sudan manager, ex-Morocco boss Walid Regragui, and Saudi Arabia head coach Hervé Renard.
The Black Stars will next travel to North America for preparatory matches, facing Mexico on May 22 before taking on Wales on June 2 as part of their World Cup build-up.
Ghana has been drawn in a challenging Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, and will be aiming to reach the knockout stage for the first time since their historic run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.