The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that Black Stars head coach, Chris Hughton has been relieved of his duties.

The decision was taken after the Black Stars crashed out of AFCON 2023 without a win in their three group games.

The GFA’s statement, published four hours after Ghana’s early exit from the tournament in Ivory Coast was confirmed, added that the technical team had also been dissolved.

The FA said it will, in the coming days, “provide a roadmap on the future of the Black Stars”

Hughton was appointed in February 2023, replacing Otto Addo whose contract with the men’s senior national team expired after the 2022 World Cup.

He was tasked with overseeing the remainder of Ghana’s qualifiers for AFCON 2023, taking the team to the tournament in Ivory Coast, as well as supervising the start of the Stars’ 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Prior to taking over as head coach, Hughton was named as the Technical Adviser of the Black Stars, ahead of the two-legged playoffs for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria, remaining in the role for the Qatar tournament.

Hughton oversaw 13 matches as Black Stars head coach, with a record of four wins, five draws and four losses.

In nine competitive matches, Hughton’s side picked up three wins, two losses and four draws.

The Black Stars’ performances under the former Brighton, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest manager have earned as much scrutiny as the results, culminating in the disappointing AFCON 2023 showing.

His selections and management of games have often been questioned by fans and pundits.

Following a loss in the opening match to Cape Verde and draws with Egypt and Mozambique, Ghana exited the AFCON for the second straight edition at the group stage.

Hughton accepted responsibility for the poor performances in the Ivory Coast.

“I take responsibility for this performance and admit my results with the Black Stars have not been good enough,” he told the media after Monday’s 2-2 draw with Mozambique.

The Black Stars will now have to regroup after the latest disappointment, with rumours of two international friendlies being planned for March against world champions Argentina and China.

They will then turn their attention back to the World Cup qualifiers which return in June, with matches against Mali and the Central African Republic.

Source: Citi Sports