Kwesi Nyantakyi, former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, has urged Black Stars coach Chris Hughton to place trust in and field young players for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Ghana, eyeing their fifth continental title, is set to compete in the 34th edition of AFCON in Ivory Coast, beginning this weekend. Grouped with Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique in Group B, the team aims for success.
Speaking with Starr FM, Nyantakyi highlighted the importance of young, speedy, skillful, and stamina-rich players. Drawing inspiration from Ghana’s success in Angola, where the team reached the final by fielding young talents, Nyantakyi emphasized the need for courage in coaching decisions.
“If we have courageous coaches, we will do well,” he stated. He urged Hughton to focus on qualities like speed, skills, and stamina, emphasizing that relying on big names is not always the key.
“Sometimes coaches may be persuaded by big names but it’s always not about that”
Reflecting on the Angola experience, where young players played a significant role, Nyantakyi expressed confidence that adopting a similar approach would contribute to Ghana’s success in winning the trophy.
“Chris Hughton should take a cue from the Angola experience where young players were fielded and we went all the way to the finals.
“If you have players with speed, skills and stamina, I believe we can do well and I think that is what the coach should do.
“I believe that with this, we can win the trophy,” he added.
The Black Stars kick off their AFCON campaign against Cape Verde on January 14, followed by matches against Egypt and Mozambique on January 18 and 22, 2024, respectively.
