Black Stars need coaching stability to succeed – Chris Hughton

Former Ghana coach Chris Hughton has called for greater stability in the Black Stars technical team, warning that frequent changes in leadership could have a negative impact on the national team.

Ghana are preparing for two crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Somalia, which will be played at the Essipong Sports Stadium, with Black Queens coach Kim Bjorkegren handed temporary responsibility for the men’s team.

The Black Stars are under pressure to revive their qualifying campaign after suffering consecutive defeats against Ivory Coast and The Gambia in their opening two Group C matches last month.

Those results led to the departure of Carlos Queiroz, whose second spell as Ghana coach lasted less than a month, leaving the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to turn to Bjorkegren for the upcoming double-header.

Hughton believes the frequent changes in the Black Stars dugout are not helping the team, stressing the importance of continuity for both players and coaches.

“When you have inconsistency in the amount of time when a manager is staying, it’s never good,” Hughton told BBC Sport Africa.

“You want that consistency in the players [and] the players want that consistency in what they see in the manager.”

Queiroz was initially appointed in April and guided Ghana to the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars held England to a goalless draw in the group stage.

However, Ghana’s campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat against Colombia in the knockout stage, after which the Portuguese announced his departure.

The 73-year-old was reappointed in early September, with the GFA highlighting his extensive international coaching experience, having previously managed several national teams, including South Africa, Egypt, Portugal, Iran, Colombia, Qatar and Oman.

His return, however, proved short-lived following Ghana’s 2-0 defeat against Ivory Coast in Bouake and a disappointing 4-2 loss to The Gambia in Accra.

Hughton, who previously led the Black Stars, believes Ghana showed encouraging signs at the World Cup, particularly in their performance against England.

“What I saw in the World Cup is that they represented the country very well, particularly the England game,” he said.

“And although it was very much a defensive outfit, there were opportunities to score.”

Kick-off for the first leg of the double-header is scheduled for Thursday, November 12 at 15:00 GMT.

The former Brighton and Newcastle United manager also warned that repeated coaching changes could create an unhealthy mentality within the squad, with players potentially becoming accustomed to the idea that a coach will be dismissed if results do not improve.

He believes greater stability in the technical department is important if Ghana are to build a team capable of delivering consistent performances.