Ghana trio of coach Otto Addo, and his assistants; John Paintsil alongside Fatawu Dauda were involved in a car accident days before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger on September 5 and 9, respectively.
They were involved in a car accident on their return from Tarkwa, having been in the town for the Champions of Champions encounter between FC Samartex and Nsoatreman FC.
The Champions of Champions is an equivalent of the Super Cup in other climes, where the winner of the top-flight league in the country plays the team that comes out victorious in a prestigious domestic cup competition.
What Was The Head Coach Of Ghana Otto Alongside His Assistants Doing In Tarkwa Before The Car Accident?
Head coach Otto Addo and his assistant, John Paintsil, as well as Fatawu Dauda, who is the goalkeeper’s trainer, are understood to have been in Taekwa for a scouting mission at the aforementioned encounter.
They avoided a head-on collision with a pick-up truck on the Tarkwa-Takoradi road and that saw the left side of the Land Cruiser they were in damaged.
Thankfully, no injuries were sustained following the incident, with Addo, Paintsil, and Dauda said to have reported to camp for their upcoming international engagements.
Ghana’s contingent for the forthcoming games against Angola and Niger are camped at Alisa Hotel in Accra.
The Statement Of Ghana On The Car Accident Coach Otto Addo, assistant John Paintsil And goalkeeper trainer Fatawu Dauda Were Involved In
Following the unfortunate occurrence, the Black Stars released a statement regarding the incident, expressing their happiness that the three tacticians were in stable condition.
However, they indicated that the trident would undergo further medical examination, as a precautionary measure, upon their return to Accra, Ghana.
It is expected that they have been examined and Ghanaians are hoping that boss Otto Addo and his assistants are in good shape to handle their upcoming matches.
An excerpt from their statement read: “We are happy to report that all three members of the technical team are in stable condition and will undergo further medical assessments, as a precautionary measure, upon their return to Accra.”
John Paintsil
John Paintsil, 43, enjoyed a notable Premier League career with clubs including West Ham United, Fulham and Leicester City between 2006 and 2012. He played for the Black Stars between 2001 and 2013.
Otto Addo
Otto Addo, 49, currently serves as head coach of the Black Stars and has previously worked as an assistant coach at Borussia Dortmund.
During his playing career, Addo, represented the national team of Ghana between 1999 and 2006.
Fatawu Dauda
Fatau Dauda, 39, is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and he represented several clubs including; Enyimba, Orlando Pirates and Asante Kokomo.
The retired shot-stopper also donned the colors of Ghana between 2008 and 2015.
Ghana National Team
The Black Stars are presently in a huge vein of form, having defeated Mali (2-1) and Central Africa Republic (4-3) in their qualification matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Their last defeat came in a friendly encounter against neighbors Nigeria, on March 22, 2024.
After an embarrassing outing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana will be looking to qualify for the next edition of the continental showpiece in grand style.
Otto Addo’s side crashed from AFCON 2023 in the group stage, having failed to win any of their matches, losing 2-1 to Cape Verde, and playing out a 2-2 draw with Egypt and Mozambique.
It will be fascinating to see how Ghana will perform in the qualifiers, as they are housed in a group that includes; Angola, Niger, and Sudan.
Meanwhile, manager Addo called up several well-known stars for their matches against Angola and Niger, with Thomas Partey, Iñaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Tariq Lamptey, and West Ham’s Mohamed Kudus all handed invitations.
Otto Addo will be hoping that his players deliver the goods, as they hunt for success in the coming years.
The Black Stars last won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1982, where they defeated hosts Libya 7-6 on penalties after playing a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Ghana’s Full Squad For AFCON Qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati Zigi, Joseph Wollacott, Frederick Asare
Defenders: Alidu Seidu, Tariq Lamptey, Alexander Djiku, Abdul Mumin, Mohammed Salisu, Jerome Opoku, Ebenezer Annan, Kingsley Schindler
Midfielders: Mohammed Kudus, Francis Abu, Thomas Partey, Elisha Owusu, Majeed Ashimeru
Forwards: Fatawu Issahaku, Joseph Paintsil, Osman Ibrahim, Antoine Semenyo, Iñaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Brandon Thomas-Asante
