Ghana manager Chris Hughton endured a baptism of fire in his first major tournament in charge as the Black Stars were shocked 2-1 by Cape Verde in their Africa Cup of Nations opener on Sunday.
An embarrassing tactical display on the touchline was followed by a verbal attack from an irate Ghanaian fan after the post-match, encapsulating Hughton’s day to forget.
It comes as a rude awakening for Hughton, who was taking charge of Ghana in a competitive game for the first time since being appointed manager last year.
Cape Verde took a surprise lead in the 17th minute through Jamiro Monteiro, before Defender and Man of the Match Alexander Djiku equalised in 56th minute.
But with just 10 minutes remaining, Cape Verde restored their advantage in a dramatic fashion as substitute Garry Rodrigues struck the winner. Garry Rodrigues tapped into an empty net in the 92nd minute after a mix-up in the Black Stars defence.
“We are incredibly, hugely disappointed with the result,” Hughton told a press conference after the game, but before the attack.
” We came into the game with a game plan. We changed the way of playing, the system a bit so that we could start on the front foot.
The loss piles the pressure on Hughton, whose conservative tactics and team selection came under scrutiny afterward. Veterans Andre started on the bench, while young midfielders Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana were left out altogether.
His decision to start inexperienced Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer at the big stage has been questioned.
And it manifested after the post match when a fan described told hughton he is “a terrible coach whose fingerprints can’t be found on the team.”
Cape Verde executed their gameplan to perfection, soaking up Ghana’s attacks before hitting on the counter. But for Hughton’s men, they now face an uphill task to qualify from a difficult Group C also containing Morocco and Gabon.
The Englishman must quickly galvanize his players after this opening day disappointment. With Ghana seeking a first AFCON crown since 1982, Hughton knows expectations are high and he cannot afford many more adverse results.
The manager cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as Ghana’s frustration to return to the top stage suffered a set back once again.
After patiently waiting for his chance to lead the Black Stars at a major tournament, Hughton’s first experience was a sobering one.
