Chris Hughton, the coach of Ghana, claims it was his decision to bench Andre Dede Ayew for the match against Angola and maintains that managers must make tough choices.
At the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday night, the Black Stars defeated the Black Antelopes 1-0 in a qualifier for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
As Chris Hughton began his tenure as Ghana’s coach, a late goal by substitute Antoine Semenyo separated the two teams.
But when Hughton left captain Dede Ayew off the matchday squad, many supporters were taken aback.
โ๏ธ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ค๐พ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป โ๏ธ
๐ซต๐พ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐จ๐ง ๐๐พ#BlackStars | #AFCON2023Q | #GHAANG | #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/jM02pv3apm
— ๐ฌ๐ญ Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) March 23, 2023
As a result, Thomas Partey, the team’s captain, led the team against the Black Antelopes without the Nottingham Forest forward.
Hughton praised his captain’s abilities when asked about his decision to bench Ayew in the post-game press conference, but he acknowledged that sometimes coaches have to make tough choices.
โThis is the choice you have as a head coach. You know the quality that Andre has you also know the quality that I like to think the squad have,โ the Black Stars boss said.
โSo these are very difficult decisions for me; certainly nothing to read into that. He is, has been and is still a very good player it was just my choice.โ
๐ธ: ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ 1๏ธโฃ-0๏ธโฃ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ด#BlackStars | #AFCON2023Q | #GHAANG | #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/9NzuVCNtPy
— ๐ฌ๐ญ Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) March 23, 2023
Hughon also discussed his team’s performance against Angola, stating that he was impressed with their use of chance.
However, he didn’t hesitate to add that his team needed to be more decisive in order to secure victories.
Weโve had 11 chances so thatโs the first positive. If you were telling me that we played 96 minutes and we only had two or three chances then thatโs worrying but the fact that we have had chances you always knowโฆcome the next game or next game after, youโre going to put some of the chances away.โ
โThe only thing we learned is that we need to be a little more clinical when we have the opportunities,โ Hughton added.
On Monday, Ghana will play Angola once more in an effort to complete qualification for the 2023 AFCON.
