Some sports analysts in the Volta Region have commended the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for dismissing Chris Hughton, the Head Coach of the ‘Black Stars’ and the Technical Team for their poor performance at the ongoing African Cup of Nations.
A press release on Tuesday by the GFA stated that its ‘Executive Council’ had taken the decision to relieve Coach Hughton of his duties as coach of the Senior National Team, the Black Stars, as well as dissolving the entire technical team.
Mr Selasi Kpodo, a sports analyst at Keta, applauded the GFA for the immediate action taken to revamp the team after its poor performance at the AFCON.
“Some decisions Chris Hughton took in the tournament tell me he was not fit for the job. He had two points from 3 games, considered 6 goals, and scored 5, a very bad record,” he told the Ghana News Agency.
Mr Kpodo said Coach Hughton took charge of the Black Stars in February 2023 when he signed a 21-month contract with the GFA but failed to live up to expectation.
It was sad that since 2017, the Black Stars had presented different coaches in all major tournaments, which signified that the handlers of Ghana’s football had no plans for the team, he said.
Madam Gifty Dekagbey, a sports journalist, told the GNA that the actions of the GFA to sack Hughton and others were in the right direction.
“Look, Hughton’s performance was worst, he took charge of 13 games and won only 4, drew 5, with 4 defeats, which he considered 16 goals and scored 13 in all competitions,” she said.
Existing records show that the Black Stars also exited the group stages in the AFCON in 1984, 1998, 2006, 2021, and 2024.
Madam Dekagbey stated that the situation must not be repeated and appealed to the GFA to ensure a properly restructured plan before appointing any new coach for the progress of the team.
Meanwhile, Mr Sitsofe Webu, a teacher at Akatsi, said the future of Ghanaian football could change if political interference was avoided.
The last defeat was by Mozambique, which scored two late goals that denied the Black Stars the chance to progress to the round of 16 after the team had led with two goals.
The GFA disclosed that it would provide a roadmap on the team’s future direction.
GNA