Ghana fires head coach ‘with immediate effect’ after AFCON exit

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Ghana have sacked their head coach Chris Hughton after the Black Stars were knocked out of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Hughton’s side failed to win any of their three group-stage encounters, taking just two points and finishing third in Group B.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced that Hughton “has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the senior national team with immediate effect”.

“The executive council has also taken a decision to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars,” the statement reads in part.

“The Ghana Football Association will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars.”

The Englishman’s sacking comes a day after Ghana were eliminated from the ongoing AFCON at the group stage.

Ghana were placed in Group B alongside Egypt, Cape Verde and Mozambique but failed to win a match.

They threw away a two-goal lead in their final group match against lowly Mozambique, conceding twice in added time.

The 65-year-old former Newcastle manager joined the GFA in February 2022 as a technical advisor and worked alongside head coach Otto Addo.

Hughton was thereafter appointed as Ghana head coach in February last year.

Ghana have been knocked out of the last two AFCON tournaments at the group stage and have not won an AFCON match in seven attempts.