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World Cup Ghana had lost five games on the bounce under Addo. Christian Bruna / Getty Images The Athletic has live coverage of the England vs Japan 2026 World Cup friendly.   England’s World Cup opponents Ghana have sacked head coach Otto Addo 78 days before their opening match of the tournament against Panama in Toronto on June 17. The decision followed five straight losses, including friendly defeats by Austria (5-1 on Friday) and Germany (2-1 on Monday) during this month’s international break. Advertisement In a statement, the Ghana Football Association said: “The Association wishes to thank Otto Addo sincerely for his contribution to the team and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavours. “The Ghana Football Association will communicate the new technical direction of the Black Stars in due course. ” Ghana face England in their second World Cup group match, in Massachusetts on June 23, and also play Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia. Addo was in his second spell as Ghana boss after Borussia Dortmund agreed in March 2024 to release him from his role as a talent coach at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. Addo had previously coached Ghana on an interim basis for much of 2022, including at the World Cup in Qatar, where they beat South Korea but were eliminated in the group stage. He resigned following after their exit from the tournament and was succeeded by Chris Hughton, the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss. Analysis by Carl Anka Addo has not enjoyed the most popular spell in charge of Ghana, but the decision to sack him so close to the World Cup will raise alarm bells. Ghana have looked poor in their two most recent friendlies, losing 5-1 to Austria on Friday before Monday night’s 2-1 loss to Germany. Addo had been unable to shape a strong defensive structure within the side, making them far too easy for teams to pass through. In the first half against Germany, they registered just 33 per cent possession, struggling to get the ball past the halfway line, or counter-attack with sufficient numbers. They improved in the second half, but under Addo, the team has rarely impressed in open play. Ghana have improved their attacking threat via set pieces, thanks to the introduction of Gregory De Grauwe as a set-piece coach and video analyst. Addo’s sacking will create a power vacuum that will need to be solved quickly. There are far too many tactical questions over a team that is still coming together. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Dan Kilpatrick is a Deputy Managing Editor for The Athletic, joining the company in 2025. Previously he was the chief football correspondent for the Evening Standard and Tottenham correspondent for ESPN FC.