Otto Addo: A Breakdown of Ghana’s performances by the numbers

A day after a game that did not particularly go according to the script is going to cause a few mummers, and so did it prove.

Ghana’s 1-1 stalemate against Niger on Monday left more questions unanswered than answered, with the manager and players coming under immense scrutiny.

However, pointing fingers at the manager without concrete data makes it a bit vague.

Otto Addo led Ghana to the 2022 World Cup, where he became the first Ghanaian coach to win a game on the world stage in Qatar.

On his return, he ended a six-game winless run in 2024, winning successive games for the Black Stars.

Nonetheless, things have gone a bit sour in September’s internationals, with the Black Stars stumbling against Angola and Niger, garnering a point out of six.

3Sports delves into Otto Addo’s numbers in his second stint with the Black Stars, drawing inferences from his first appointment.

Number of games played

In his first tenure in 2022, Otto was at the helm for 12 games, including friendly encounters.

Since his reappointment in March 2024, the manager has played exactly half the amount of games he did in his first spell (6), with a mixed bag of results accompanying it.

Finding a winning formula

Otto has, time without number, sought to find a winning formula for the Black Stars.

Four wins from twelve games, including a famous 3-2 World Cup win over South Korea, and a 3-0 trouncing of Madagascar in an AFCON qualifying game, were a part of his successes two years ago.

However, the former Borussia Dortmund talent developer has two wins since March, with both victories coming against Mali and Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Took over commentary duties from @TheKelOwusu yesterday at the start of the second half between Ghana and Niger.

What do you make of my intro? pic.twitter.com/VAI7aKSlAG

— Emmanuel Andam (@_eandam) September 10, 2024

Sharing the spoils

Four of Ghana’s matches in Otto Addo’s first reign were stalemates, including the 1-1 draw against fierce rivals Nigeria in the second leg of the double-legged World Cup qualifying game, which booked Ghana’s ticket to Qatar’s showpiece.

The most recent disappointment on Monday against Niger, together with a 2-2 draw in his second game against Uganda, has seen the manager fail to turn a draw into a win on two occasions.

Losing steam

Angola’s stoppage time goal may have pierced the heart of Ghanaians, as their fortress, Baba Yara, was made a laughing stock due to the state of the pitch and the team’s inability to keep a 24-year unbeaten home streak running.

The gaffer has lost twice on his return, which is in contrast to the four defeats in his first run in the dugout.

Goals galore

Mohammed Kudus (4) and Jordan Ayew (6) have been the go-to men for Otto Addo in his times as manager.

The former led with example in 2022, while the mantra is on the latter to continue his phenomenal goal-scoring spree.

However, Kudus’ four strikes were a part of 14 goals Ghana scored, whilst Jordan’s was a part of the 10 Black Stars have managed thus far.

The Black Stars have displayed some defensive problems this year and are at a complicated position with Kwesi Appiah’s Sudan waiting in October

Here’s a look at Ghana’s woes with some numbers #3SportsGH pic.twitter.com/uaqPVcIRbT

— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) September 10, 2024

Porous defence

“Defence wins you titles attack wins you games,” the great Sir Alex Ferguson once said.

The Black Stars’ defence has been anything close to a title-winning set-up.

Ghana conceded 16 times in 2022, and have already let in the same number of goals as they have scored (10) so far.

Goals conceded per game

With the charitable work done by the Black Stars’ defence in Otto’s time, it’s expedient to know to what extent their good deeds contribute to the number of goals they are likely to concede in a game.

A 1.33 goals per game rate two years ago has significantly risen to 1.66 in 2024, albeit playing six games less than two years prior.

The rate at which the team concedes, may persist or be halted in the coming months.

Late capitulations

There is a recurring theme of the Black Stars losing their heads and running out of steam in the latter parts of games, which has seen them concede five goals from the 80th minute thereof — which is in contrast to the two conceded in 2024.

The team tends to creak and crumble when put under duress.

Shutouts

The rate of concession means the Black Stars are yet to keep a clean sheet since a pre-AFCON warm-up game against Namibia in January.

Ghana kept opponents at arms length in Otto Addo’s first stint, having five clean sheets to show for their efforts.

However, the team is yet to keep a clean sheet on the return of the manager.

Per the metrics, Otto Addo — who is at the halfway point, concerning the games managed in his first and second stints — can be fairly assessed.

By Andrews Sefa Bamfo

The post Otto Addo: A Breakdown of Ghana’s performances by the numbers first appeared on 3News.

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