Otto Addo admits defensive woes, eyes positive response against Germany 

Ghana coach Otto Addo said defensive errors and a loss of concentration contributed to his team’s 5-1 defeat to Austria in a friendly in Vienna on Friday. 

Austria dominated the Ghana for large periods of the match at Ernst Happel Stadium, capitalising on defensive mistakes to cruise past the Black Stars. 

“We have problems defensively. We have to be more stable, especially psychologically. After the third goal, we needed to keep our heads up and maintain intensity. 

“But these are the situations where we still need to step up. We have to overcome this,” Otto Addo said in a postmatch interview. 

He noted that the first two goals were “too easy” from Ghana’s perspective, adding that structural and individual errors contributed to Austria extending its lead. 

“In goals three, four and five, there were a lot of defensive issues. We have to work on that mentally. The next step is to stay strong and focused so this doesn’t happen again,” he said. 

The friendly was part of Ghana’s preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures, with Otto Addo using the match to test some new players and his tactical variations. 

But after the match, Otto Addo admitted that the magnitude of the defeat underscored the work still required ahead of the World Cup in June. 

Ghana face Germany on Monday, March 30, 2026, in a match that promises thrills, and Otto Addo believes his side must approach the fixture with resilience and intent. 

“We have to look forward to the upcoming match. And yeah, we’ll be even tougher opponents. But we must put everything in that match to bring back the belief in our team and to show that we can compete at the highest level. And so yes, it was a difficult evening for us,” he said. 

Source: GNA