Ghana’s head coach, Chris Hughton, is confident that the Black Stars will not replicate the mistakes of two years ago, ensuring a different outcome in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 as they face Mozambique on Monday.
Reflecting on Ghana’s early exit from the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, where they suffered a crucial defeat to Comoros in the last group match, Hughton emphasized the importance of learning from past experiences.
Despite not being the head coach at the time, Hughton played a technical advisory role for the team and believes that the lessons from the previous tournament will guide the Black Stars in their crucial upcoming match.
“While some players were part of the squad two years ago, others have joined since. Players in their careers learn to rebound from defeats and put the past behind them,” remarked the former Brighton and Hove Albion manager during the pre-match press conference.
Acknowledging the significance of past experiences, Hughton underlined the team’s focus on the future and the upcoming match against Mozambique.
He stressed the need to avoid dwelling on the past, as it could potentially impact the team’s preparation for the crucial encounter.
“As we approach this match, we appreciate the past, but our concentration is solely on the future. We are looking forward to securing a positive outcome,” added Hughton.
Ghana finds itself in a must-win situation against Mozambique to secure a spot in the round of 16 in AFCON 2023.
Hughton’s strategic approach, coupled with the determination of the Black Stars, aims to ensure a different narrative this time around, learning from the setbacks of 2021.
