Otto Addo spoke to us ahead of our 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Chad in N’djamena on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
During the interview at Hotel L’amitie, Otto gave an update on the likes of Alexander Djiku, Joseph Painstil, Derrick Kohn, Mohammed Kudus and Mohammed as well as assessing our Matchday 7 opponents.
Find out everything he had to say with our transcript below.
On player updates
Nothing much, I think we had a good training today. Everybody is healthy, training looks sharp, so I’m very, very happy.
On playing on an Astroturf
Yeah, so, yeah, I’m really, surprised that they have allowed this pitch for an international match. The pitch is really, really not good. It’s very, very hard for the players, it’s like playing on concrete. But yeah, what can we do? We have to take it as it comes and we are prepared. We observed everything today. Like I said, it’s not a good AstroTurf, to be honest. Nowadays, there are far better Astroturf’s, which are also much healthier for the players.
On Chad
We’re excited, looking forward to that match. We know it’s going to be tough to play away in Africa, it’s always tough. Now, also under these circumstances, it will be different because the players are not used to playing on artificial grass. But let’s see, I think we are mentally prepared. And like I said, the boys look good and sharp on the pitch today. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to the match tomorrow.
On players’ mentality
Yeah, it’s a special moment, I think, for the country. But like I said, we have to really be focused on the game. We blend everything else out and we know what our aim is. Our aim is to qualify for the World Cup. And if we beat Chad, we’re getting closer. So, we do everything we can to win this match.
On absence of Joseph Painstil and Alexander Djiku
They are important players, that is why I have invited them. But yeah, like I said, we have to take it as it comes. Surely, full understanding for Djiku, he has to find a club for the future, and he has to do the medical check. So, there’s nothing we can do about that. And yeah, with Joseph, it’s always difficult, you know, traveling from America, especially from Los Angeles, It’s very, very far. And sometimes if there’s one delay in any flight, you can’t get the connection flight. And this is what happened to him. And unfortunately, he can’t be joining us. But I’m looking forward to the next game, also for him to be part of the team.
On taking one game at a time
Sure, we have to take it as it comes. Anything else doesn’t make sense. We have to do our homeworks now here in Chad. We have to win this match to keep those who are behind us in their place, at least with the same points behind us. And if we are a little bit lucky, we can even extend the points. So we have to do our homework. And the worst thing we can do is to underrate Chad. I hear a lot of people talking about Chad as if they’re not that good. And yeah, it’s an easy win. People are already talking about the World Cup, but I think this is the biggest mistake we could do, to underrate a team, to think we have already made it. No, it’s hard work. It’s going to be very, very hard tomorrow. It’s going to be tough. The game is on an astro turf. It’s a different terrain. And they are at home. The fans will be cheering for them. So it’s going to be difficult. Nowadays in football, there are no more small teams. And I know that surely if we get an early goal or so, it can be easier. But in football, anything can happen. And like I said, we don’t have to underrate them. We have to be focused. We have to be concentrated and we have to believe in ourselves.
On Ghana being favourites on paper
Sure, sure. I mean, like I said, we’re very close, but we’re not there yet. And yeah, I just try to emphasise to the players that they have to work even harder now. Nobody should relax or think it will go by itself. It’s hard work, hard work. And for this, we have to be very, very sharp and focus and to push each other. And then I think if we do so, we will get the right results. I like it this way rather than the other way around.
On having Ghanaian players hit form at club level
Really, a lot of Ghanaians are doing good all over the world, and it’s really, really not easy. And yeah, we have a good team. We watch a lot of matches. We observe. We try to find out which player fits to our playing style. And yeah, like I said, I think and I hope we made the right decision at the moment. But surely there are a lot of other players which haven’t been called. And we’re always looking at their performance at the club and surely also the performance which they had here. And yeah, this keeps it very, very positive. Like I said, I like it more this way. I like them to make it difficult for me to decide who will come to the national team than the other way around. That we are lacking players and we’re trying to look who can even play the standards. And I’m very, very happy that the situation is how it is now.
On Derrick Kohn
Yeah, I’m happy for him that he made it into the squad. And to make it step by step. And he just changed the club to Union Berlin in Hamburg in the German Bundesliga. And his performance there also, it’s important for me to see which standard he has at the moment. He came from Galatasaray. I think he had a good season last year. And yeah, he has to keep it up. There’s concurrence on each position. And yeah, let’s see what will happen.
On Kamal Deen, Thomas, Kudus, Tariq and Ibrahim Osman changing clubs and what it means to the team
Yeah, I think in general, every player should look to challenge himself. And if you have the possibility to play on a higher stage or on a better team, you will prove yourself. And this is also a plus for the national team. And once Kudus improves, because Tottenham is a stronger team than West Ham, it’s better for us because it will challenge him more every day in training, but also in the games. Once Ibrahim Osman improves, playing from the Dutch league, going to Ligue 1, which I think, is a bit tougher, in general, it will improve him because he will develop even more. And he has to find strategies to succeed in that league. And that will also, at the end, help the national team. So, I’m very happy that the players are making these kind of movements and changes just to develop and improve themselves. And at the end, if each individual will improve and develop even more to a higher stage, the national team will benefit from it.
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