Black Stars Head Coach, Otto Addo, has called on Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to rally his chiefs and people behind the team as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.

Ghana will face Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, with the second match against Madagascar set for Monday, March 24, in Morocco.

In a bid to secure support for the crucial games, Coach Addo visited King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II to seek his blessings as the Black Stars aim to qualify for the World Cup to be hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.

"We seek for your support, for your guidance as we have difficult matches, difficult task ahead of us and I think the Ghanaian nation urgently needs a victory or victories to go to the World Cup and for that I think we need the support of all Ghanaians, especially the Ga people and the Ga chiefs to support us in our task so that the whole of Ghana can be happy and everybody will be joining us to go to the World Cup," Otto Addo said.

On behalf of the Ga Mantse, Nae Wolomo of the Ga Traditional Council, Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III, expressed gratitude to Coach Otto Addo for recognizing the importance of visiting the Ga Mantse to introduce himself and seek support for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

He offered prayers for abundant blessings for the coach and his team, assuring them of the full support of the Ga Mantse and the entire Ga State. He also encouraged Coach Addo to return to the palace for further consultations and advice whenever needed.

"We are grateful that you’ve done something that has never been done before. Many Black Stars coaches have come and gone, but none have ever come to introduce themselves to the Ga Mantse or sought his blessings ahead of a match in Accra. This is something we’ve never witnessed," Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III remarked.

He further noted that even when previous coaches recorded victories in Accra, they often took the trophy to other regions, neglecting the Ga chiefs and custodians of the land. 

 Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III, Nae Wolomo of the Ga Traditional Council

"But with what Coach Addo has done, the spirit of the entire Ga State will follow him, ensuring his success in these matches," he added.

Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III also emphasized that Coach Addo’s connection to the Ga State, having been raised and grown up there, makes this visit even more significant. 

"There are players of Ga descent in the Black Stars, and we cannot withhold our support from them. We receive him with open arms, knowing this visit will open many doors and help achieve what has not been accomplished before," he said.

Otto Addo - Black Stars coach

In closing, he offered continued blessings and support, saying if time permits, some members of the Ga Traditional Council will attend the match to further show their backing for the team.

"We give him all our blessings, and if time permits, we will come to support him on the day of the match to ensure everything goes well. Don't hesitate to come back for further support or advise whenever you need to," he added.

With nine points from four matches, the Black Stars are level with Comoros, having secured three wins and one defeat. Ghana's qualifying campaign began with a 1-0 win over Madagascar, followed by a loss to Comoros. They bounced back with consecutive victories over Mali and the Central African Republic in June last year.