Ghana Fans Slam Otto Addo for Benching Partey in Costly Draw Against Chad
- Jordan Ayew’s early strike gave Ghana the lead with his sixth goal of the qualifiers after a brilliant team move involving Iñaki Williams and Mohammed Kudus
- Celestine Ecua’s late deflected goal denied the Black Stars victory, punishing Ghana’s wastefulness in front of goal
- Fans’ backlash against Otto Addo centred on his decision to bench Thomas Partey, with many arguing the midfielder’s presence could have secured an easy win
Ghanaian fans are demanding answers from head coach Otto Addo after he benched Thomas Partey in the Black Stars’ 1-1 draw against Chad in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Black Stars struck first in the 18th minute when Jordan Ayew scored his sixth goal of the qualifying campaign.
Source: Getty Images
The buildup was a fluid team move that began with Elisha Owusu threading a precise pass to Iñaki Williams.
The Athletic Bilbao forward quickly laid it off to Mohammed Kudus, who danced past two defenders before sliding the ball into Ayew’s path for a simple tap-in finish.
Ghana continued to dominate possession and created several chances to extend their lead, but failed to convert.
Their inability to take advantage of opportunities proved costly in the closing stages of the game.
With just minutes left on the clock, Celestine Ecua punished the Black Stars by netting a dramatic equaliser, per the BBC.
After picking the ball outside the penalty area, Ecua surged forward and unleashed a strike that took a cruel deflection off a Ghanaian defender, leaving the goalkeeper stranded as the ball nestled into the net.
Watch the goal below:
Ghanaians raise questions over Partey's benching
The late goal left fans furious, particularly over Otto Addo’s decision to keep Partey on the bench for the entire match.
Many supporters took to social media, expressing their frustration and insisting that the Villarreal midfielder’s inclusion could have made the difference in what they believed should have been a straightforward victory.
@nanayaw0007 said:
"Why partey was at the bench a game we needed 3 points to cements our position and you are benching him such a useless coach."
@quame_age asked:
"that reminds me , why didnt he play Thomas Partey?"
@SirJunesty posted:
"Any reason why Partey didn’t play this game?"
@liljasper6 added:
"Secof chad you bench Partey this coach no be serious."
@chedda_chizzy1 quizzed:
"How can you drop partey your best player during World Cup qualifiers."
Source: Twitter
The late blow handed Chad their first point of the qualifying campaign and only their second goal in the group, leaving Ghana frustrated after letting two valuable points slip away.
Despite the setback, the Black Stars remain in a strong position to qualify for back-to-back World Cup finals, holding a four-point lead at the top of Group I.
See the current standings of Group I:
Otto Addo's raises serious concerns about Chad's pitch
In an earlier report, YEN.com.gh drew attention to Otto Addo’s serious concerns about the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Deby Itno ahead of Ghana’s World Cup qualifier against Chad.
The former trainer scout at Borussia Dortmund expressed shock that football authorities had approved the venue to host a game of such significance.
Source: YEN.com.gh
