Ghana sack Chris Hughton after AFCON disaster with damning statement

24 January 2024 , 06:16

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Chris Hughton's tenure lasted less than a year (Image: ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

Ghana have brutally announced the sacking of manager Chris Hughton following their winless Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Hughton, 65, had been in charge since last February, having previously been Ghana's technical advisor for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and finals. The Black Stars, who've won AFCON four times but not since 1982, failed to make it through a group containing Cape Verde, Egypt and Mozambique.

Having been eliminated in dramatic fashion on Monday evening, Ghana announced the former Newcastle, Birmingham, Norwich, Brighton and Nottingham Forest boss' departure 24 hours later in a statement containing just three sentences. "The Ghana Football Association wishes to announce that Chris Hughton has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the senior National team with immediate effect," it read.

"The Executive Council has also taken a decision to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars. The Ghana Football Association will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars."

Hughton's exit comes as no surprise, with the Black Stars having suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to eventual group winners Cape Verde in their opening game. Following the match, there were reports that the 65-year-old was accosted by an angry supporter at the team's hotel in the Ivory Coast, where AFCON is being held.

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Ghana then drew 2-2 with Egypt, twice surrendering the lead. Heading into added time in their final Group B match, the Black Stars led Mozambique 2-0 thanks to two penalties from Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew, putting them on course to reach the last 16.

However, Hughton's side conceded a penalty themselves in the 91st minute, which was scored, before Atletico Madrid defender Reinildo came up with a 94th-minute equaliser, a result which allowed Egypt to slip through in second place after three draws.

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Four-time winners Ghana haven't triumphed at AFCON since 1982 (ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

"I take responsibility for this performance and acknowledge that my results with the Black Stars have not met expectations," Hughton admitted post-match. "We had a group of players that really wanted to do well but the performance and results in these three games was not good enough. My impact on the team can only be judged by the results.

"This was the best opportunity we had to do well. We've had the players for a long period now to train together and we anticipated we would grow stronger the longer we went in the competition, but the fact is we haven't. My assessment of my results is that they haven't been good enough."

Nathan Ridley