Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo was so impressed by Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo’s work in guiding the national team to the World Cup in Qatar that he jokingly threatened to keep him from Dortmund.
Addo, who is still in the employ of Dortmund as a talent coach, was named as the interim Black Stars head coach for the two matches against Nigeria.
Despite not picking up a win in either game, Addo got the Black Stars playing some delightful football, enough to get the results they needed to qualify for Qatar 2022.
President Akufo-Addo, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, was elated by the Black Stars’ exploits in Nigeria that he gave Otto Addo a call after the game.
A video showed Nana Addo congratulating Otto Addo and the team over the phone for the “best possible birthday gift.”
He also cheekily suggested that Addo would not be allowed to leave Ghana and return to Dortmund.
“Well done, well done. But when you come in we’re going to kidnap you. We’re not going to allow you to go back to Dortmund. So be very careful when you’re entering, you might not be able to leave again,” Nana Addo.
“It’s the best birthday gift I could have had, the news of your qualification. It’s excellent. I don’t think people are going to sleep tonight. Congratulations to you, the captain, Thomas Partey, and all the boys and I’m hoping I get to see you when you come in tomorrow.”
The Black Stars’ 1-1 draw in Abuja took them through to the World Cup on away goals.
