Ghana Coach Chris Hughton Faces Criticism with AFCON Exit Looming

Ghana coach Chris Hughton, aged 65, faced renewed criticism on Monday as Ghana’s chances in the Africa Cup of Nations appeared to dwindle following their third group game without a win. Despite initially holding a 2-0 lead over Mozambique in their last match at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ghana conceded two goals in stoppage time, resulting in a 2-2 draw and a third-place finish in Group B.

With only two points from their matches, Ghana is unlikely to secure one of the top two spots for direct qualification to the last 16. The team must now await Wednesday’s results to determine if they can secure one of the spots reserved for the four best third-placed finishers.

Hughton addressed the post-match tension, stating, “Things are very raw right now,” responding to questions from Ghana reporters about the possibility of being fired or resigning. He acknowledged the current discontent, describing the atmosphere as “an angry place at the moment.” As Ghana players faced criticism in the media mixed zone, Hughton admitted the team’s struggle to see games through, emphasizing their subpar performances with two goals conceded in each of the three games played.

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Hughton, who faced an assault from an upset fan last week following Ghana’s defeat in their initial group match against Cape Verde Islands, the smallest nation among the 24 participating in the Ivory Coast tournament, expressed accountability for the team’s performance.

Acknowledging the players’ earnest desire to succeed, Hughton admitted that the outcomes in the three games fell short of expectations. He emphasized that his impact on the team could only be evaluated through the results.

Despite having an extended period to train together and anticipating improvement as the competition progressed, Hughton conceded that this was the team’s prime opportunity to perform well. However, the anticipated growth didn’t materialise, leading to his assessment that the results were not up to the mark.

Expressing deep frustration and anger, Hughton conveyed that he shared the sentiments of Ghanaian supporters. When questioned about the possibility of being dismissed, he stated, “Anything beyond this moment is not something I can comment on.”

Having assumed the role of Ghana coach in March, the former manager of Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion refrained from discussing potential future actions.