Former Black Stars striker, Augustine Arhinful, advises the Ghana Football Association (GFA) against sacking Black Stars coach Chris Hughton, asserting that such a decision less than a month before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) would be a risky move.
Arhinful points out that the primary challenge faced by Hughton is player selection, emphasizing, “From a technical point of view, I don’t think it’s the best thing to do. Between now and the Nations Cup is just one month if I’m not lying. You can take the risk by relieving him of his position, but I don’t think that is something where we have to subscribe to,” in an interview with Angel FM.
Despite the recent poor results and criticism of the technical team, including Hughton, George Boateng, Didi Dramani, and Richard Kingson, Arhinful believes that Hughton still plays a crucial role in the team’s success. He highlights the need for improvement in player selection, stating, “There is still more room…especially when it comes to picking the players for the matches. We have spoken a lot about the call-ups, now it’s picking the players.”
Arhinful’s perspective counters the growing calls for Hughton’s dismissal, with critics attributing the team’s struggles to his perceived lack of experience in managing a national team. Arhinful, on the contrary, emphasizes Hughton’s expertise and knowledge of the game as essential to the team’s success.
The Black Stars have faced challenges, with three defeats in their last four matches, including a recent 1-0 loss to Comoros. This has left Ghana three points behind the leading position in the 2026 World Cup qualifying group.
As they prepare for the upcoming AFCON in Ivory Coast, Ghana faces formidable opponents in the group stage, including Mozambique, Cape Verde, and Egypt.
