To prepare for their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Angola on Thursday, the Black Stars began their training sessions on Monday.
Joy Sports reported that eight players, including Joojo Wollacott, Inaki Williams, Daniel Amartey, Joseph Aidoo, Antoine Semenyo, Joseph Paintsil, newcomer Ransford-Yeboah, practiced under the direction of captain Andre Ayew at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The rest of the players are expected to join the team on Monday evening and travel to Kumasi for Tuesday’s practice at the Baba Yara Stadium.
During the session, Joojo Wollacott, who was injured before the World Cup last year, received specialized training from goalkeepers’ coach Richard Kingston while the other players stretched their muscles and kicked the ball around.
Head coach Chris Hughton prepared for his debut game with the national team.
Hearts of Oak have reportedly parted ways with head coach Slavko Matic.
Information gathered indicate that the Serbian tactician has departed Ghana for his home country.
Coach Slavko Matic was appointed as the new head coach of Hearts of Oak last year in October 22.
The 46-year-old signed a two-year deal to replace Samuel Boadu as the Phobians’ trainer five months ago.
While he will immediately win over the fans of the club, a series of bad results saw him lose face.
Following an attack by fans during one of his training sessions last month, he had to file a report at the Police headquarters.
Since then, Coach Slavko Matic has been missing in the dugout whenever Hearts of Oak plays matches.
Before joining Hearts of Oak, the Serbian tactician who holds a Uefa Pro License had worked with clubs in Serbia, China, Qatar, and Slovenia, with his last job coming at Bulgarian top-flight side, Septemvri Sofia.
The 2022/23 Ghana Premier League continued with match-day 22 fixtures over the weekend.
Asante Kotoko on Saturday defeated FC Samartex 2-1 at the Nsenkyire Park in Sameboi, while Tamale City thrashed Karela United 3-1, with Sampson Eduku getting a brace.
League leaders Aduana Stars went down 2-0 to Legon Cities, thanks to a brace by Michel Otuo.
Accra Hearts of Oak laboured to a slim win over bottom club Kotoku Royals on Matchday 22 of the betPawa Premier League at Accra Sports Stadium Sunday.
The former champions were hoping to continue their unbeaten run against Kotoku Royals but did not come cheap as the visitors frustrated the Phobians for majority part of the game.
Kotoku Royals were more compact at the back as they kept a very level of discipline to frustrate Hearts of Oak.
With the first half, ending goalless, the second half saw a renewed sense of urgency from Hearts of Oak , as they pushed forward in search of the opening goal.
However, Kotoku Royals defended resolutely, with goalkeeper Frank Boateng making a number of brilliant saves to keep his side in the game. Caleb Amankwah broke the hearts of Kotoku Royals with a late strike to give Accra Hearts of Oak a 1-0 win as he popped up with the decisive goal to send the home fans into a frenzy.
The win takes their unbeaten run to following – the 1-0 win against Asante Kotoko and the draw against Bibiani Gold Stars on Matchday 21.
Accra Hearts of Oak are now fourth in the table with 35 points – 4 points behind leaders Aduana FC who play Legon Cities on Monday.
Bechem United returned to winning ways as they recorded a 3-1 victory over Karela United at Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.
Hafiz Konkoni put The Hunters in front in the 20th minute. Isaiah Nyarko doubled their advantage on 42 minutes before Abdul Karim made it 3-0 for the hosts on the half time break.
Karela were awarded a penalty in the 58th minute but Samuel Atta Kumi scored to give his side a consolation as Bechem United held on to win 3-1.
Bechem United thus climbs to 3rd place in the League standings, 3 points behind leaders Aduana FC who play Legon Cities on Monday. Karela United are in 14th position, 2 points adrift of the relegation zone.
In Tarkwa – Medeama SC scored in either half to beat Accra Great Olympics 2-0 at Akoon Park. Joshua Agyemang netted first on the stroke of half time before Jonathan Sowah added the second goal inside 66 minutes.
New boys Nsoatreman FC smashed Accra Lions 3-0 at Nana Konamansah Park. Kwame Nana first hit the back of the 31st minute – his third straight home goal for Nsoatreman in the ongoing season. Mark Agyekum added to the tally to make it 2-0 in an eventful first half before Ushau Abu put the icing on the cake with a 56th minute strike.
Meanwhile Berekum Chelsea fought for a point against Real Tamale United at the Aliu Mahama stadium in Tamale.
Chris Hughton, the new coach of Ghana, aims to maximize the potential of the talented attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus.
Kudus has been in excellent form this season, scoring 20 goals across all competitions for both club and country, but his best position has been a source of confusion for his coaches, having excelled as an attacker, midfielder, and winger.
Hughton stated during his unveiling that Kudus is a versatile player who can play in several positions.
“With regards to Kudus, he is a player that can play in numerous positions. Everybody can have an opinion on his best position. For me it’s just about getting the right balance,” said Hughton at his unveiling.
Kudus has been included in the 25-man squad for Ghana’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola. He is expected to join the team in Ghana on Monday after featuring in Ajax’s Eredivisie title-decider against Feyenoord on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Hughton’s primary objective as the head coach of the Black Stars is to win the Nations Cup in Ivory Coast next year. His tenure with the team is set to last until December 2024.
Chris Hughton, the new head coach of Ghana’s senior national team, has emphasized the importance of winning over playing attractive football.
Speaking at his unveiling ceremony in Kumasi on March 20, the former Brighton boss highlighted the significance of bringing silverware to a country that has not won a major tournament in 41 years.
Hughton stressed that the team’s style of play should not be a priority as long as they achieve success.
“We want to see a winning team, because there can be and there would be lot of questions on our style of football – are you too defensive, are you too offensive? – players that play. Ultimately, what we all want to see is winning football and that starts with the correct preparation of the team.
“Using the players to the best of their ability and picking a team that suits the type of players we have,” Hughton explained.
The Black Stars’ first training session under Hughton’s leadership, assisted by George Boateng, is expected to take place at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday.
Black Stars coach, Chris Hughton says he is unable to tell if Ghana’s four-decade-old trophy drought will end during his spell.
Chris Hughton at his unveiling in Kumasi on Monday, 20 March 2023 said that winning trophies is a process and that he currently cannot say that the Black Stars are in a good place to win trophies.
Chris Hughton said his focus is to build a team that will compete and qualify for tournaments but he will be given false hopes if he states explicitly that he can win trophies with the Black Stars.
He outlined his targets for the team and hoped that the team will in the long term do something huge for Ghanaians
“No coach can guarantee a trophy. No coach can sit at a table like this and guarantee you that. No single coach can do that,” he said during his unveiling.
“It starts with qualifications and you can know what you can do but no coach can guarantee a trophy,” he added.
“We have short, medium, and long-term objectives. In the short term, we want to win football games which will put us in a better position to extend the duration.”
The former Brighton and Hove Albion coach indicated his satisfaction with the duration of his contract with the Ghana Football Association.
“I think the length of my contract is the correct one”, Chris Hughton said in response to a question about whether he was unhappy with the offer by the FA.
Chris Hughton also spoke about the future of Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey in the team, indicating that he is hugely impressed with the midfielder.
“Partey’s role in the team is as a continuity player…he is not that guy who is going to dribble past multiple players. His role is important to what the team does even if he doesn’t always stand out.”.
He urged Ghanaians not to compare Partey’s performance for Arsenal and for the country as he plays distinct roles for both entities.
“Sometimes as football fans, we assume a player must necessarily fit the frame we have of him in an A team in a B team. Partey’s roles ar both club and country are different from each other, but key.”
Chris Hughton also disclosed during his unveiling that he will pay attention to the Ghana Premier League and give selections to players who impress.
Chris Hughton’s first game as Black Stars coach is against Angola on Match 23.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced the appointment of Chris Hughton as the new head coach of the Black Stars, signing a year-and-a-half deal.
Hughton, who previously served as the technical advisor for the team, expressed his delight at being officially unveiled as the head coach of the senior national team, stating that he is incredibly proud to represent Ghana and the Black Stars.
He promised to give everything to ensure a strong communication and relationship with the association and the supporters.
“To represent Ghana and the Black Stars as the head coach is something I am incredibly proud of,” the former Tottenham Hotspur boss said during his official unveiling.
“I’ll give everything to make sure the communication and relationship I have with this association and the supporters,” he added.
Hughton will be assisted by Didi Dramani and George Boateng.
Chris Hughton, the newly appointed Black Stars coach, has vowed to spend more time in Ghana to keep an eye on the Ghana Premier League and other domestic competitions.
He has been criticized for not including any local players in his first squad, but he promised to give them a fair chance.
Hughton has committed to monitoring the Ghana Premier League closely, stating that he is “constantly being made aware of players who are doing well” and “it is important that we have a strong national league.”
This is a significant boost for the league and could lead to more opportunities for local players to earn call-ups to the national team.
Hughton’s commitment to paying closer attention to local players is a departure from previous coaches who have been accused of neglecting the domestic league.
His first assignment is on Thursday in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
On Monday, March 20, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced that Chris Hughton had signed a one-year contract to serve as the head coach of the Black Stars.
Hughton was introduced to Ghanaians in Kumasi ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and will be in charge of the national team until December 31, 2024.
His two assistant coaches, Didi Dramani and George Boateng, have also signed one-year contracts to be part of the Black Stars technical team.
Hughton’s first task as the Irish-born Ghanaian tactician will be to lead the team in their upcoming match against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The first leg of the match will be hosted at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday, March 23, with the second leg set to take place in Luanda on March 27.
John Eduafo, the coach of Kotoku Royals, remains confident that his team will avoid relegation at the end of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season.
Despite losing to Hearts of Oak in stoppage time, Eduafo expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance and attributed the loss to a lapse in concentration.
He acknowledged that survival will not come easy but expressed confidence that his team will do everything possible to win their remaining matches and escape the drop.
“Loss of concentration but I am so much impressed by the performance of my team, it’s just hard luck”
Asked if his outfit can survive the drop, he said, “We will survive, I am very confident. We will do everything possible to win the rest of the matches ahead and survive” he told StarTimes.
Kotoku Royals currently sit at the bottom of the league table with 17 points from 22 matches played so far in the domestic top-flight.
