By OkayGoal 
Former Ghana international Augustine Arhinful has urged the Black Stars’ technical team to respond decisively after their heavy 5â1 defeat to Austria on Friday.
The result represents Ghana’s heaviest loss in 19 years, since a 5â0 defeat to Saudi Arabia, and has intensified scrutiny on the team’s preparations ahead of their next assignment against Germany.
Speaking in the aftermath on Luv FM, Arhinful called for a more disciplined and analytical approach from the coaching staff, insisting that the players must be taken through a detailed review of the game to address recurring mistakes.
“If I were part of this team or the coach, we would sit down together, go through the game, and pause at every mistake,” he said. “You point out where things went wrong and explain how it should have been done, especially in transition.”
He identified Ghana’s slow transitions from defence to attack as a key weakness, referencing a sequence involving midfielder Thomas Partey.
According to Arhinful, a lack of forward support forced Partey to retreat under pressure, eventually recycling possession back into Ghana’s half.
“At one point, Thomas Partey was moving forward but had to turn back because there was no support. He passed to Sibo, and suddenly the ball was back in our half. That tells you everything about how slow we were in transition,” he explained.
Arhinful stressed that such lapses should be addressed through structured video analysis sessions involving both players and technical staff, allowing for clearer understanding and accountability.
“You sit behind the television with the technical men and address these issues. Then the players go back to their rooms and reflect on what they did and what they need to improve before the next game,” he added.
He also questioned the effectiveness of the current technical setup, warning that changes may be necessary if the team fails to show improvement.
“The whole technical team needs to sit up. Either we believe in them, and they step up properly, or we start considering other options,” he stated.
With the Germany friendly looming, pressure is mounting on coach Otto Addo and his staff to restore confidence and steady the team’s form ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.