Ghanaian sports broadcaster Patrick Osei Agyemang, popularly known as Countryman Songo, has sharply criticised Black Stars head coach Otto Addo, accusing him of being complacent and lacking diligence.
Songo expressed his discontent with the coach’s decision to include St. Gallen goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi in the latest Black Stars squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He argued that the selection of Ati-Zigi reflects a lack of effort on Otto Addo’s part in scouting new talent, accusing the coach of relying on familiar players rather than exploring fresh options for the national team.
“If Lawrence Ati-Zigi is considered our best goalkeeper and number one option, then the coach is lazy. It means he does not do any scouting; he is not searching for players.”
“I don’t understand, did the coach do scouting? There is no local player apart from the goalkeeper (Frederick Asare). The foreign-based players he called are not that good, but they always call them.”
Songo voiced his dissatisfaction with the inclusion of just one local player in the squad, who happens to be a goalkeeper.
He criticised football administrators, stating that they should be ashamed of the current state of the local league, which he believes has significantly declined.
“There is no local player. Are you not ashamed that the league has declined to the extent that no local player could play for the Black Stars? Some players are there not because they are good but because of their names.”
On Thursday, August 29, 2024, Otto Addo announced his 23-man squad, which includes 3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 5 midfielders, and 7 forwards.
The Black Stars are set to face Angola at home in Kumasi on September 5, 2024, before travelling to Niger for their next match on September 9.