I was surprised Otto Addo was sacked as Ghana head coach - Winfried Schafer

Former Black Stars technical advisor Winfried Schäfer has admitted he was taken aback by the Ghana Football Association’s decision to dismiss Otto Addo earlier this year.

Addo, who guided Ghana to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was relieved of his duties following consecutive friendly defeats to Austria and Germany in March.

His departure was confirmed by the GFA after a 2-1 loss to Germany, despite having been reappointed on a three-year contract in March 2024.

Reacting publicly for the first time, Schäfer said the news came as a shock to both him and the former head coach.

"I was just as surprised as Otto Addo," Schafer told Transfermarkt.

"He was informed of the separation after the Germany game. Otto came back to our table that night, where we were sitting analysing the game, and I could see immediately that he was shaken."

The veteran German coach added that he sensed something was wrong even before Addo broke the news.

"I asked him, 'Otto, what's wrong?' And then he said he'd been fired."

Following Addo’s exit, the Ghana FA handed the reins to experienced Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz on a short-term deal as the team prepared for the next phase of their World Cup campaign.