Gospel musician Grace Ashly urges GFA to retain Otto Addo ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

Accra, Ghanaian gospel musician Grace Ashly, widely known for her songs dedicated to the Black Stars, has appealed to football authorities not to replace Head Coach Otto Addo before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking on Daybreak Hitz with Doreen Avio and Kwame Dadzie on Hitz FM, Grace Ashly said the coach needs encouragement and constructive feedback, not dismissal.

“As for coach Addo, we don’t have to touch him. If there is anything [wrong with his performance], they should gather people, correct him and talk to him. You see, that is what we did to Akwasi Appiah. Ghanaians, when we have our own, we all want to drop them, and I don’t think it’s right,” she said.

She expressed optimism about the Black Stars’ prospects for the upcoming tournament, saying the team’s youthful squad only needs time and support to flourish.

“The young shall grow,” she noted. “We need to give them strength. We need to support them and pray for them. We should not tear them apart. There are certain words when you hear from people, it dampens your spirit. So we beg Ghanaians. Once they are there, they are the national team. We don’t have any national team apart from them.”

Ghana recently qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finishing top of their group in the African qualifiers. The Black Stars will be making their fifth World Cup appearance, representing Africa alongside Senegal, Morocco, and Nigeria.

However, Coach Otto Addo has come under scrutiny from sections of the football community, with critics citing inconsistent tactics and creativity. Some fans and analysts have urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to consider a new coach before the tournament.

In response, Otto Addo has maintained that he is not afraid of losing his job, reaffirming his commitment to building a strong, competitive team for the World Cup.