Former Hearts of Oak managing director, Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe has called for an immediate sacking of Black Stars coach Chris Hughton following the team's recent uninspiring performance under the Irish tactician.
Armstrong-Mortagbe highlighted a lack of identity, philosophy, application, endeavour and energy within the team after nine months under Hughton's guidance, emphasising that the team's recent poor performance reflected these deficiencies, and expressed doubt about Hughton's ability to reverse the trend ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2024.
“It becomes difficult to see where Mr Hughton is taking the team, and this is not limited to the last two games,” he said on Graphic Sports X-Spaces Dialogue.
“It has been the case virtually throughout the nine games that he has handled the Black Stars.
I struggle to see an identity, I struggle to see a philosophy, I struggle to see us using our players in roles where I think the players could apply themselves better,”
He questioned the continuity in coaching, noting that despite Coach Hughton managing approximately 80 per cent of the playing body inherited from his predecessor, Otto Addo, there seemed to be little progress, hence his conviction that a coaching change might be necessary to inject new energy and maximise the potential of the players.
Onetime Administrative Manager of the Ghana Leagues Clubs Association (GHALCA), Mr Armstrong-Mortagbe pointed to the national team's struggles against Mexico and USA in international friendlies in October, where they suffered defeats of 0-2 and 0-4, respectively, as crucial moments that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) should have prompted a reconsideration of Coach Hughton's role.
“If I were a member of the GFA Executive Council I would be moving that we contemplate a coaching change.”
