Head Coach Otto Addo met the press on Monday ahead of our game against Nigeria at the GTech Community Stadium in Brentford on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. The former Borussia Dortmund winger is heading into his fourth clash against the Super Eagles, following his success in the FIFA World Cup playoff in March 2022. Otto lost 2-1 to Nigeria in March last year, and this presents an opportunity for him to record his first win against Nigeria.
Speaking to the media, Otto Addo touched on the return of Felix Afena Gyan, the rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria, the absence of some of our key players, and the possibility of seeing players from the Ghana Premier League in the Unity Cup.
On Unity Cup
So, first of all, we'd like to thank the organizers for the invitation. We're very, very happy to be here. I think first of all the culture meets, competition, it's a big festival, and it’s very, very nice to be here. And surely, we are using this opportunity to do further tests, to test our players, to see our players on a very, very high level. And yeah, we're happy that we are getting this opportunity. And for us, it's surely a good, good test for the upcoming work of qualifying games in September.
On bragging rights and being successful after the competition
For us, it's a good test, and it's for our confidence will be good for the upcoming games and for us, we really need to know we have so many open questions on players. And I'm happy to give also some new and young players some possibilities to play and to show what they can and surely, after this tournament, some question will be answered. And yeah, for us also, we have a big community here in England. It's very, very important for them to see and feel the players. And so, for us, it's a very, very good opportunity to play and participate in this tournament.
On making Ghana proud
I think everyone knows what it's about, surely, it's a friendly game, but it's not really a friendly game. So yeah, we know what it's about, and we want our people to be proud of us, and we want our people to talk from a certain perspective, and surely, it's always about who has the better team. And sometimes margins can decide the outcome of the game. I think normally, to be honest; we are on the same level. But yeah, we're hoping that we will win, hoping that we'll be successful. It's going to be tough, but I'm sure we can do it.
On return of Afena Gyan
There are a lot of young players, and he's also young which I want to give a chance. Surely, we have been observing the players all the time. I was flying around Europe the last months. I saw a lot of matches, a lot of players, and we are having, we're getting features from our video assistants, and yeah, he did well, and that's why we want to give him another chance. He's still young. His career hasn't been like he expected it to be in this, but this is normal in football. Sometimes you have ups, sometimes you have downs. And yeah, for him, it's another opportunity to show himself.
On qualifying over Nigeria and the violence that erupted after the game in 2022
First of all, we played draw, but we qualify for the World Cup, and there were tensions that day, but to be honest, the Nigerian fans weren't angry on us, so they didn't harm us anyway, and they were angry at their own players, so surely, we had to get into the dressing room to be safe. But I think this is a conversation where the fans of Nigeria and the Nigerian team should be asked, not us, so we didn't have anything to do with this. And for us, I think for everybody, it's very important that whatever the outcome of the result is that the spectators stay calm and safe and. And I think violence shouldn't have any place in football at all.
On team bonding and absence of certain key players
It's difficult to say so there is lack of bonding. Inaki has been out, for example, for three weeks. You know, there's nothing we can do. Kudus came to the hotel today and visited the players, you know. So, there are different things. So we are still bonding. We are connecting. We were trying to do the best, but if somebody is injured, there is nothing we can do, and we have to look at the games at the other side. It gives opportunity for a lot of other players. And this is how football is at the moment. So only us, but also other teams, have a lot of injuries. Some are very, very serious, and some are maybe just slightly. But this is how it is. And we try still to bond. This is a situation also which could occur in September, so we will just try to prepare our best for these upcoming matches. And surely, we have to rely on the players which are there. So, there's nothing you can do about this. Everybody is trying to give his best. And surely, what I want is that that, players who are in England or London especially, and that they come to visit the team and this is what they want to do. And like I said this is what is happening by way of bonding to show up, to communicate, and this the only thing we can do in this very situation.
On big rivalry between Nigerians and Ghanaians in London
I'm really excited. Actually, the last time we lost one. So really, really want to, want to beat them. I know about the rivalry. It's not only in England, but I think England has a very, very huge community of Nigerians and Ghanaians, so, but it's everywhere. And, yeah, it's very important. This these games even, I mean, we had recent good results, but in general, even if you have bad results these, these are the games where you can get the fans back on track. And so, I know the importance of these games. And like I said before, we are trying to do everything to win the scheme.
On standard of Ghana Premier League
For me, the Ghana league is like every other league. I've been watching a lot of games live, but we always observe the league. We try to pick out the best players. We will now use the Unity Cup to bring in some players from the Ghanaian League, which we haven't seen before on an international level. So if you have watched our recent games. We always had local players in our squads also playing, and so I rate the league very high. Otherwise, we wouldn't have players in our squads which can compete also on that level. So, like I said, we even brought more players from the local league, and looking forward to seeing them on that level.
On players born abroad and possible switch to play for Ghana
To be honest, it's very difficult to lead a discussion now about players which are not invited. And I always kept it like that. It's very, very difficult, because there are so many we have, let's say I don't know, 400 players in Europe, playing, also in England, which we could have brought. And it's difficult to talk about players who are not in the squad.
On first time he watched a Ghana versus Nigeria game
Actually, I don't know how old I was. I've seen Ghana against Nigeria. But actually, I don't know which year it was. So, I've been going to Ghana since the age of four, almost every year so, and I've been going to the stadium with my uncle. And sometimes I watch it on TV also so, but I don't know the year actually, to be honest. But it’s always a tough match between the two countries.
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