There are big lessons to learn - Otto Addo on Ghana's defeat to Austria
28th March 2026
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Otto Addo has described Ghana’s heavy defeat to Austria national football team as a “reality check”, while insisting the result offers important lessons ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The Ghana national football team were beaten 5-1 in Vienna in a performance that exposed defensive weaknesses and a lack of intensity, particularly in the second half.
Addo admitted the scale of the loss was difficult to accept. “I can't really remember us losing like this. It was really, really disappointing,” he said after the match.
Despite the scoreline, the Ghana coach pointed to a more encouraging first-half display, where his side created several clear-cut chances but failed to convert them.
“At the end, I think we had a good first half, where we had some really, really good situations where we could have scored. Out of three or four situations, we at least should have scored one,” he noted.
The second-half collapse, however, drew strong criticism from Addo, who highlighted a drop in intensity and costly defensive lapses.
“Second half was really, really not good enough at all. Everybody is playing for the World Cup, and we need to play with more intensity. I expect much, much more against the ball,” he said.
While the defeat was humbling, Addo stressed that it should serve as a valuable learning experience, especially for younger players still adapting to the demands of international football.
“At the end, I think it was a little bit too high if you compare it to the two halves, but there are big, big lessons to learn, especially for our young players,” he added.
Ghana will now turn their attention to a tougher test against Germany national football team on Monday, where Addo will be looking for a strong response as the Black Stars aim to rebuild confidence ahead of the World Cup.