“I Often Overthink Myself” — Otto Addo Reflects Ahead of Central African Republic Clash

Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, has admitted that he can sometimes be his own toughest critic, acknowledging that he tends to “overthink” his decisions as he prepares the Black Stars for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic (CAR).

In an exclusive interview with JoySports in Morocco following the team’s final training session on Tuesday, Addo urged his players to remain fully focused and respectful toward their opponents, drawing lessons from Ghana’s recent hard-fought match against Chad.

“The past has shown that we can’t underrate any team. Any team can play and defend, so it’s going to be very tough. We had a very hard warning against Chad,” he said.
“I hope we’ve learned from our mistakes there. I also overthink myself, as always — I’m the kind of person who overthinks. But I’m very sure we’ll take the right decisions to beat the Central African Republic.”

Addo remains unbeaten in World Cup qualifying matches across both of his stints as Ghana coach. During his first tenure, he guided Ghana to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, eliminating Nigeria on the away-goal rule after a 1–1 draw in Abuja.

In the ongoing 2026 qualifiers, he has led the Black Stars to five wins and one draw in six matches — a strong run that keeps Ghana in pole position to secure a fifth World Cup appearance.

However, the team’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign ended in disappointment, with Ghana failing to win any of its group matches against Angola, Sudan, and Niger.

Reflecting on that setback, Addo said football’s unpredictability remains one of its defining characteristics.

“That’s the beauty of football — anything can happen. We slipped, and it was a big surprise because everyone thought we had already won. But that’s not how football works,” he noted.

Looking ahead, Addo said the team is determined to correct past mistakes and maintain their unbeaten World Cup qualifying record.

“We have to play football, fight, and give everything until the last minute — especially defensively, because we have the right strikers. Psychologically, the team looks ready. We slipped once, and I’m confident we’ve learned from that experience.”

Ghana currently tops Group I with 19 points, three ahead of Madagascar, and will aim to strengthen their position with victory over the Central African Republic.