AFCON 2023: CK Akonnor rallies support for Chris Hughton

Former Black Stars head coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor, has rallied for support for Chris Hughton ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In the last few weeks, Hughton had come under incessant pressure from several quarters within the Ghanaian landscape for failing to grind the results for the country.

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On the back of two consecutive international friendly losses against Mexico and the United States of America, the results have been dire in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

In two games, he won one against, Madagascar and lost one to Comoros.

Despite the inconsistencies in results and the failure of Hughton to impose his football culture on the team, Akonnor is optimistic that the BlackStars coach will get things should he be given the needed time, patience, and support.

“I know what he is going through. It’s a difficult time. Sometimes, you can get confused especially when the whole nation comes at you,” 

“We need to be calm. There is a need for calmness to prepare well, get focused, and have a strategy for going into this tournament.

“It’s a big deal for us as a football nation but we need to calm down and allow him to prepare the team adequately so we can go to this tournament and do well.”

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Black Stars is housed in a tricky group with Egypt, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.

The 2023 AFCON is scheduled to come off on January 13 to February 11, 2024.