The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has taken decisive action, announcing the dismissal of Black Stars coach Chris Hughton due to the team’s premature exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Ivory Coast.
Despite being four-time AFCON winners, the Black Stars faced a challenging 2023 campaign, failing to secure a victory in any of their three group-stage matches. Finishing third in Group B with two points, Ghana drew 2-2 with both Egypt and Mozambique and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde in their opening fixture.
Hughton, who took on the role of head coach in February 2023 after serving as Ghana’s technical advisor for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and finals, saw his tenure cut short as the team failed to progress in a competitive group featuring Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique.
The 65-year-old former Newcastle, Birmingham, Norwich, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest boss was relieved of his duties, marking the dissolution of the Black Stars’ technical team by the executive council, as confirmed in a statement by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Tuesday night.
“The GFA will provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars in the coming days,” the statement added.
This setback comes on the heels of Ghana’s 2021 AFCON group stage exit in Cameroon, with the team facing a similar fate in the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast. Additionally, the Black Stars experienced a mixed start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers under Hughton, securing a victory against Madagascar with a stoppage-time goal but subsequently losing 1-0 in Comoros.
Stay tuned for updates on the Black Stars’ future direction as the GFA outlines its plan for the national team in the wake of these challenging developments.
