2023 Afcon: GFA back Chris Hughton after Black Stars’ disappointing defeat to Cape Verde

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) says they have offered their 100% support to Black Stars coach, Chris Hughton after the defeat against Cape Verde.

The four-time African champions suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat against minnows on Sunday in their Group B opener of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

The defeat means Hughton has suffered his fourth defeat in 11 games in charge which put him under massive pressure.

Ghana were unbeaten in their first five games under the former Brighton manager but have lost four of their past six.

Two of those defeats have been significant upsets, the loss to Cape Verde following on from a World Cup qualification shock at Comoros in November.

However, Henry Asante Twum says the Football Association have backed the 65-year-old following a meeting despite the defeat.

“We have had a meeting with the coach and gave him 100% assurance that we are solidly behind him,” Asante-Twum added to BBC Sport.

“We think it is possible for the team to win the two remaining matches to make it to the next round,” he added.

Former Nottingham Forest, Brighton and Newcastle manager Hughton became Ghana coach in February 2022, having previously been a technical advisor in the Black Stars’ set-up.

Ghana will take on Egypt in their second Group B on Thursday, January 18 at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.