Ghana Head Coach Chris Hughton has opened up on the Black Stars’ readiness for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Matchday 4 qualifier against Angola on Monday.
The former Norwich City, Tottenham Hortspur, Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United manager is aiming for his second win on the bounce after leading the Black Stars to a 1-0 win against Angola on Thursday.
According to him, “I think again, a difficult game. Angola showed in big parts of the game the quality that they have got, their way of play. I don’t think there will be too many surprises in the way they play because they are a very technical and they like to play very expansive game. It’s about making sure that we on the day defend well, play as a unit and take our opportunities, perhaps a little bit better than what we did in the first game.
He also touched on absence of Djiku, Andre Ayew, Salisu and Denis Odoi ahead of the crucial reverse fixture.
Their absence is a loss to the team because they are not only players in the squad but they are players who have been around and been part of the squad for a while. But this is International football and this is why you have a squad prepared and always if its starters like in particular Denis Odoi and Alexander Djiku – both started then this is where you have a squad and it’s always an opportunity for somebody else.
Commenting on his side’s approach to the game, he said” The approach is that we are up against a good team. I can say something quite obvious, that we will have to defend well and we will have to attack well. Always try to get the balances. We have to make sure that we are compact as team – this is for sure, because they are a good quality and they a very technical team,”
“But we are here to win the game and you can’t win the game unless you give yourself an opportunity to attack and to attack well. We have to be careful how we do this. If the game becomes too open, if it becomes end to end then of course it can be for any team so we have to have a strategy going into the game as we would in any game. They are playing at home; they will try to use their support. But we are a good team, we managed to get the victory a few days ago and it’s something we want to build on.”
