Chris Hughton sacked as Ghana head coach

Ghana manager Chris Hughton

Ghana manager Chris Hughton Credit: Jamie O'Sullivan

Chris Hughton's tenure as the head coach of the Ghana national team has ended abruptly after the Black Stars' group stage elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations. 

Ghana finished third in Group B, which meant they failed to advance to the knockout phase of the tournament. 

The decision to terminate Hughton's contract was announced by the Ghana Football Association on Wednesday.

The entire techinal team of the Black Stars was also disbanded.

Hughton, a former Republic of Ireland international with Ghanaian heritage, took charge in March as head coach after serving as a technical advisor during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

However, the 65-year-old's tenure was marred by challenges, including a World Cup qualifier loss to Comoros Islands and a defeat to Pico Lopes’ Cape Verde Islands in the AFCON opener.

Hughton’s time in charge saw his side only win four matches out of a possible thirteen. 

The Ghanaian fans' discontent escalated during the tournament when an angry Ghanian supporter attempted to attack Hughton after the team's defeat to Cape Verde Islands. 

The subsequent draws with Egypt and Mozambique added to the disappointment, accumulating a mere two points.

Hughton, who also appeared on the shortlist for the vacant Ireland manager position, faced criticism for his team's performance and strategic decisions. 



The elimination marked Ghana's second consecutive group-stage exit from the AFCON. 

The critical turning point in Hughton's tenure came in the final Group B game against Mozambique. Despite holding a comfortable two-goal lead, Ghana conceded twice in added time, resulting in a 2-2 draw. 

This outcome, combined with results in other groups, shattered any hope of progressing to the knockout stage.

As the Ghana Football Association prepares to outline the future direction of the Black Stars, Hughton's dismissal stands as the second coaching casualty in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, following Gambia boss Tom Saintfiet's resignation. 

The Ghana Football Association made a statement last night regarding Hughton’s removal as head coach.

"Chris Hughton has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.



The executive council has also taken a decision to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars.

The GFA will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars."

The search for a new coach and a revamped strategy now lies ahead for Ghana as they assess the aftermath of another disappointing campaign in African football's premier competition.

About Rory Merriman

Rory Merriman is a St. Patrick’s Athletic fan who studied journalism in TU Dublin and has written for numerous publications both online and print. He joined the extratime.com team in 2023. View Full Profile