Even Pep & Ancelotti cannot guarantee results – Henry Asante Twum backs Black Stars coach Chris Hughton.

Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has backed Black Stars coach Chris Hughton for failing to guarantee he will win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Ghana, a four-time African champion, has come close to winning the tournament in 1992, 2010, and 2015 but finished as runners-up.

Following the release of the Black Stars’ final 27-man squad for the 34th edition of the AFCON in Ivory Coast, which gets underway from January 13 to February 11, the former Premier League gaffer failed to guarantee he will lead the team to end the country’s 41-year trophy drought.

According to Mr Asante Twum, factors come into play in major tournaments, adding that even top-class coaches like Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti cannot guarantee results.

“Chris Hughton knows the history of Ghana, and he knows that we have won the AFCON on four occasions. He is aware that we have an expectant crowd that wants to win every game and to win handsomely, so it is a major thing he is trying to fix,” Asante Antwi told WoezorTV on The Arena sports show, which is aired every Tuesday from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

“But I also want to mention that Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, or Maxi Allegri, who are top coaches across the globe, cannot guarantee results because factors sometimes affect performance.

“You can be leading in a game and concede a deflected goal in the 90th minute, and the game will be thrown into penalty shootouts, and you will lose. You can lead 3-0, and the opponent will find a way to equalise all three goals, and another penalty shootout will happen.

“We saw that in the Community Shield between Manchester City and Arsenal when City took the lead, but Arsenal scored with a deflected shot, and Arsenal later won on penalty shootouts, so it is a fact that no coach can guarantee results,” he added.

The Black Stars started camping in Kumasi on Tuesday, January 2, with Jordan Ayew and Inaki Williams expected to join camp on Wednesday. Ghana is in Group B and will face Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique.

The Black Stars of Ghana will first come up against Cape Verde at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 14, 2024, then face Egypt at the same venue four days later and then Mozambique at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on January 22, 2024.