Otto Addo, the head coach of Ghana has revealed that the Black Stars’ recent emphasis on set-piece strategies has been instrumental in their success, following a dominant 3-0 victory over Madagascar in the World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking at the post-match press conference on March 24, 2025, Addo acknowledged the team’s improvement in capitalizing on set plays, citing their recent matches against Chad and Madagascar. He noted that Ghana had worked extensively on this aspect of the game, which paid off in both fixtures.
I think we analyzed well. For example, against Sudan, we had about 16 set pieces and were also a bit unlucky. Alexander Djiku hit the post, and we created a lot of chances. Addo stated.
The Black Stars’ ability to execute set-piece routines has contributed significantly to their recent victories, with key goals coming from well-worked plays.
Addo also took time to commend his coaching staff, particularly assistant coach Desmond Ofei and chief video analyst Gregory De Grauwe, for their efforts in refining the team’s tactical approach.
In football, if you work hard and are patient, the results will come. I have to also pay big respect to the assistant coaches Desmond Ofei and also Gregory De Grauwe, who are working hard and trying to find new ideas, and it worked well as we won 3-0. He added.
With Ghana now leading Group I in the World Cup qualifiers, the team’s improved set-piece efficiency could be a crucial asset as they push towards securing a spot in the tournament.