Black Stars coach Otto Addo faced the Ghanaian media on Wednesday to announce his squad for the doubleheader against Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The press conference gave coach Otto Addo an opportunity to explain to Ghanaians what they should expect from his team and also allowed him to clarify certain issues surrounding the team.

Although the media encounter was dominated by the exclusion of skipper Andre Dede Ayew from the squad for the friendlies, there were some important issues concerning the team that came up.

GhanaWeb Sports highlights six major talking points from the presser:

Amartey and Ayew casualties of Otto Addo’s new policy

Before the squad announcement, rumors were widespread that some senior members of the team would not be called up due to a new direction being taken by coach Otto Addo.

The reports mentioned Thomas Partey, Andre Ayew, and Daniel Amartey as three players likely to be affected by this shift in direction from Otto Addo.

As it turned out, Amartey and Ayew were the ones omitted, while Partey was included in the squad and will be leading them.

Andre Ayew still has a future with the Black Stars

Coach Otto Addo confirmed the rumors of Andre Ayew's exclusion from the team but quickly added that the door has not been closed on the Black Stars skipper.

Otto Addo, who declined to disclose the reasons for his decision to drop Dede Ayew, stated that he would bring the skipper back to the team when he feels it is the right time.

Otto Addo explained that he had conversations with Andre Ayew ahead of the squad announcement and that although the player did not agree, he (Otto Addo) assured him that he would be considered for future inclusion when appropriate.

What Ghanaians should expect from Otto Addo’s Black Stars

Black Stars coach Otto Addo did not guarantee trophies but emphasized the importance of his team playing good football that will excite Ghanaians.

He mentioned that Ghanaians are accustomed to their national teams playing attractive football and that he will work hard to ensure that the Black Stars bring joy to the fans.

He noted that for the Black Stars to achieve success, the players will need to enjoy playing and have no fear on the field.

Otto Addo to pay attention to the Ghana Premier League

At the press conference, Otto Addo revealed that the Ghana Football Association pressured him to include a player from the Ghana Premier League in the list.

Otto Addo disclosed that from now on, he would be attending match centres to watch some Ghana Premier League matches in order to find players who deserve to be in the Black Stars squad.

He believes that watching the games live, rather than relying on videos and reports, will give him the best opportunity to make informed decisions when selecting players for the Black Stars.

Pep Guardiola and Mourinho influence

For a coach with a German football orientation, it has been assumed that Otto Addo would primarily follow a fast-paced attacking football philosophy.

However, during the press conference, Otto Addo disclosed that his coaching approach is influenced by a variety of coaches, including Jose Mourinho, who is known for his defensive and counter-attacking style of play.

Otto Addo stated that studying coaches with different philosophies allows him to prepare his team to adapt to various situations during matches.

Baba Rahman exclusion and his future

It came to light during the press conference that left-back Baba Rahman rejected the call-up to the national team due to some unfortunate treatment meted out to him in 2023.

Otto Addo disclosed that Baba Rahman was badly affected by the booing he suffered during Ghana's game against the Central African Republic in an AFCON qualifier.

EK