Otto Addo Visits Alexander Djiku as He Tours Turkey Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

• Black Stars head coach Otto Addo is on a tour of Europe ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
• The Ghana Black Stars coach paid a visit to defender Alexander Djiku at his base in Istanbul, Turkey
• The Black Stars of Ghana will face Chad and Madagascar in March when the World Cup qualifiers resume

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Black Stars coach Otto Addo is in Turkey as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which returns in March.

Having failed to qualify the Black Stars for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, there is pressure on the German-trained coach to lead the country to the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Addo as part of his preparations for the upcoming matches in March he visited experienced defender Alexander Djiku.

Djiku missed Ghana's last two matches in the AFCON qualifiers due to an injury.

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However, he is expected to return to the team in March for the games against Chad and Madagascar.

In a photo shared on social media, Addo looks to have shared his plans with the player, who is expected to play a key role in the qualifiers.

The former Borussia Dortmund player will also take the opportunity to monitor other Ghana players in Turkey including Kingsley Schindler and Jerome Opoku.

The Black Stars are hoping to make a fifth appearance at the World Cup and currently sit joint top in the World Cup qualifiers group alongside Comoros.

Ghana has won three of their four matches in the qualifiers, including a famous away win against Mali.

Why Otto Addo's visit is important?

Djiku missed four games during the AFCON qualifiers, featuring the the games against only Sudan in October. There were reports he was displeased with the gaffer, forcing him to withdraw from the November games against Angola and Niger.

Kweku Asare, a Ghanaian sports journalist stated the importance of Addo's visit when he spoke to YEN.com.gh.

"It is very important that Otto met some of the key players of the team. I know he is on a mini European tour, where he will meet the big boys in the team especially after that disastrous episode in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers," he said.

"There were so many lows from that run, the senior players did not show any form of leadership while the young players had no idea what they were about. Otto also felt he could do it without the senior players but it backfired magnificently.

"Meeting the players will help iron out some issues and forge ahead for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is very important for Ghanaians. This I believe will lead to a positive transformation but will it be that quick? I don't think so."

Appiah reacts to AFCON draw

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah has stated his readiness for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as he leads Sudan to the tournament in Morocco.

The North Africas were handed a tough group and will face 2019 champions Algeria, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea in Group E.

Appiah, an AFCON winner with Ghana in 1982 as a player, remains confident of Sudan's chances, stating they have no fear for any time.

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Source: YEN.com.gh