Ghana coach Chris Hughton has responded to an incident where he was confronted by a supporter following his team’s opening-day defeat to Cape Verde in the 2023 AFCON.
The 65-year-old coach expressed appreciation for the support he has received after the incident and shifted his focus to the upcoming game against Egypt.
Following Ghana’s loss to Cape Verde, an angry Ghanaian fan reportedly confronted Hughton at the team’s hotel, hurling invectives at him. The situation was brought under control by Ivorian security officers who intervened and removed the aggressive supporter.
As Ghana prepares to face Egypt in their second group game, Hughton addressed the incident at a press conference, emphasizing that it’s now in the past.
“I very much appreciate the levels of support that I’ve had. I think that is something is very much in the past. I think it’s had a lot of media coverage,” said the Black Stars boss. “I thank everybody for the messages of support but probably today is the day to very much look forward to a very competitive game that we have tomorrow.”
In a related statement, Ghana forward Jordan Ayew emphasized that the Black Stars are not at the AFCON for a leisurely visit but to win games. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Ayew stated, “We didn’t come here to visit Abidjan; we came here to win.”
The Crystal Palace forward and his teammates are determined to make amends for their opening-day loss and are focused on achieving success in the tournament.