Ghana has decided to dismiss their head coach, Chris Hughton, following their unsatisfactory elimination from the group stage of the 2023 AFCON tournament.

Ghana’s hopes of progressing in the tournament were dashed on Tuesday as results from other groups did not go in their favor. Despite picking up just two points in Group B, with draws against Egypt and Mozambique and a loss to Cape Verde, Ghana still had a chance of advancing as one of the four best third-place teams. However, Cameroon’s victory over Gambia ended their knockout hopes.

In response to their disappointing performance, the Ghana Football Association made some significant changes. Head coach Chris Hughton was relieved of his duties with immediate effect, and the technical team of the Black Stars was dissolved. The association stated that they would provide a roadmap for the future direction of the team in the coming days.

Hughton, who previously managed Newcastle United and Brighton, was appointed as Ghana’s head coach in February 2023. While Ghana had topped their qualification group for AFCON, their start to World Cup 2026 qualifying under Hughton was mixed. They needed a last-minute goal to secure a victory against Madagascar in their opening game and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Comoros.

Following their loss to Mozambique at AFCON, Hughton expressed his frustration, stating that things were very raw at the moment. He acknowledged that their performances had not been up to par, conceding two goals in each game and finding themselves in a difficult situation.

Overall, it has been a disappointing campaign for Ghana, and changes within the coaching staff reflect the need for improvement. The Ghana Football Association will now have the task of charting a new course for the Black Stars.