Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, has terminated the contract of coach Chris Hughton following their elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during the group stage. The team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde in their opening match in Ivory Coast, followed by draws against Egypt and Mozambique. Consequently, Ghana failed to progress from Group B based on the results of other matches.
Chris Hughton, the former Tottenham defender and manager of Newcastle and Brighton, was appointed as the coach of Ghana in February 2023. The decision to part ways with Hughton was announced by the Ghana Football Association in a statement released late Tuesday.
“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,” the statement 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.”
Ghana, which reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 2010, experienced a similar early exit from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The elimination of former champions Algeria was also confirmed on Tuesday, while hosts Ivory Coast are on the verge of an early departure from the tournament.