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In the aftermath of the Black Stars’ premature exit from AFCON 2023 without a single victory in their group stage matches, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially relieved head coach Chris Hughton of his duties, effective immediately. The decision also extends to the dissolution of the entire technical team supporting the national team.
The GFA’s announcement, made four hours subsequent to Ghana’s elimination from the tournament in Ivory Coast, outlines the removal of Hughton from his position, emphasizing the need for a fresh approach after the disappointing campaign. The FA has committed to revealing a comprehensive roadmap for the future of the Black Stars in the coming days.
Chris Hughton, who assumed the role of head coach in February 2023, succeeding Otto Addo, faced the challenging task of guiding Ghana through the remainder of the AFCON qualifiers, overseeing their participation in the Ivory Coast tournament, and kickstarting preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Hughton’s tenure comprised 13 matches as head coach, resulting in four wins, five draws, and four losses. In competitive fixtures, the team secured three victories, suffered two defeats, and settled for four draws. However, the Black Stars’ performances under the former Brighton, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest manager faced considerable criticism, particularly regarding team selections and match management.
The pivotal moment leading to Hughton’s dismissal was the disappointing AFCON 2023 showing, marked by a loss to Cape Verde and draws against Egypt and Mozambique, resulting in Ghana’s elimination at the group stage for the second consecutive edition.
Addressing the media after the 2-2 draw with Mozambique, Hughton took responsibility for the subpar results, stating, “I take responsibility for this performance and admit my results with the Black Stars have not been good enough.”
The Black Stars are poised to regroup, with speculations suggesting plans for two international friendlies in March against world champions Argentina and China. The team will subsequently shift their focus back to the World Cup qualifiers, resuming in June with fixtures against Mali and the Central African Republic.
