Ghana Football Federation – GFA sacked Chris Hughton as national team head coach following the Black Stars’ group stage exit at the Africa Cup of Nations – AFCON.
On Tuesday evening, Africa’s football powerhouse failed to win any of their three-group stage matches at AFCON, picking up just two points and finishing third in group B.
The Black Stars’ hope of progressing further were dashed with Mauritania’s surprising victory over Algeria in Bouake.
GFA axed Hughton following the team’s disappointing Group B campaign, after they secured just two points from three matches.
Ghana Football Association
“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,” read a GFA statement.
“The Ghana Football Association will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars,” added the statement.
Hughton’s backroom staff — including former Aston Villa midfielder George Boateng, ex-Black Stars keeper Richard Kingston, and Didi Dramani — have all also been let go by the federation.
“The Executive Council has also taken a decision to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars,” the statement concluded.
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Black Stars’ Performance
Ghana was pooled in Group B alongside Egypt, Cape Verde and Mozambique but failed to win a match.
The team’s AFCON campaign included a 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde in the opener, conceding a heartbreaking 92nd-minute goal before holding Egypt 2-2 in their second group match on Thursday.
The win they required to progress in their final group game against Mozambique was firmly in their grasp following two Jordan Ayew penalties, only for the Mambas to score twice in second-half stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw.
This left Ghana in third place with two points, and after results in other groups went against them, the Black Stars were confirmed as eliminated from the tournament on Tuesday.
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Chris Hughton
Hughton, a 65-year-old former Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion manager, assumed the role of as Ghana’s national team boss in February 2023, having served as the federation’s technical advisor for the previous year.
The former Newcastle coach occupied in this role during the 2022 World Cup, as Black Stars were eliminated in the group stage, replacing Otto Addo as the boss after Otto stepped down following the 2022 World Cup Qatar.
However, Hughton, whose father was Ghanaian, has overseen a disappointing Nations Cup campaign for the four-time champions.
The decision to part ways with the coaching staff signals a turning point for the Black Stars as they evaluate and plan for their future endeavors in international football.
