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For gospel singer Grace Ashly, the decision to part ways with former Black Stars coach Otto Addo felt less like a tactical move and more like a heartbreak.
The longtime Black Stars supporter has revealed that she was deeply disappointed when news broke that Otto Addo had been relieved of his duties, insisting that the coach deserved reinforcement rather than removal.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z with Kwame Dadzie, Grace recounted the moment she heard the news while in Stuttgart.
“I was in Stuttgart when it happened, and honestly, I felt very sad,” she said. “If a decision had to be taken, I thought it should have come after the Austria game, not after Germany. I also believed that if there were concerns about the team’s performance, they could have brought in another coach to work alongside him. The two of them could have managed the team together.”
In Grace’s view, football is not always about replacing people at the first sign of trouble. Sometimes, it is about strengthening the bench and offering support where it is needed.
Although she admitted that football authorities may have acted with the team’s interests at heart, she still struggles to hide her disappointment.
“I wasn’t happy about it, but it has happened,” she added.
This is not the first time the singer has come to Otto Addo’s defence. Back in 2025, she publicly appealed to football authorities to resist calls for his dismissal. Instead, she argued that the coach needed technical support and patience to navigate the challenges facing the national team.
Otto Addo’s tenure officially came to an end in March 2026 after a run of disappointing results, including defeats to Austria and Germany in international friendlies. The Ghana Football Association subsequently turned to experienced Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, tasking him with steering the Black Stars into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the coaching shake-up, Grace Ashly remains optimistic about Ghana’s chances on football’s grandest stage. She is hopeful the Black Stars can break past the group phase and give fans plenty to celebrate.
Few celebrity supporters have waved the Ghana flag as passionately as Grace Ashly. Since 2006, she has composed and performed cheer songs for the national team, earning a reputation as one of the Black Stars’ most loyal and vocal cheerleaders.
While coaches may come and go, one thing appears certain: Grace Ashly’s faith in the Black Stars remains firmly intact.
