Dan Quaye defends Otto Addo after Black Stars' defeat to Sudan

Former Ghana international Dan Quaye has come to the defense of coach Otto Addo following the Black Stars' disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The loss, which took place at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Libya, leaves Ghana on the brink of missing out on the tournament set to be held in Morocco next year.

Ghana last failed to qualify for the AFCON in 2004, and the current situation has raised concerns about the team's prospects.

In an interview with Bryt FM on Adekyee Mu Nsem, Quaye emphasized that the blame should not rest on Addo’s shoulders but rather on the players' performances.

“No one should blame the coach. We should rather blame the players because they are not serious.

The players are selected based on their performance at club level, so why don’t they exhibit the same form for the Black Stars when invited?” he questioned.

Quaye went on to highlight the need for accountability among the players, stating, “Truth be told, this crop of players is indisciplined, and it’s high time we address it.

Players who are not ready to play for the national team can decline call-ups. It’s better than accepting a call-up and playing anyhow, breaking the hearts of millions of Ghanaians.”

He also criticized the defensive performance, noting, “Our defenders were poor. We committed silly mistakes in the game, and that cost us the defeat.

I’m highly disappointed because we can’t afford to miss out on AFCON in this group. The Sudanese played as if they were Ghana.”

With their chances of qualifying hanging in the balance, Ghana must secure victories against already-qualified Angola and Niger while hoping for favorable outcomes against Sudan to keep their AFCON dreams alive.