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Chris Hughton, the head coach of the Black Stars, has defended his decision to bench captain Andre Dede Ayew in Ghana’s recent match against Angola, which they won 1-0.
Ayew, 33, was not part of the starting lineup in the 21-man squad, and instead watched the entire game from the substitutes bench, with Arsenal star Thomas Partey captaining the side.
Speaking after the match, Hughton stated that such decisions are an essential part of a coach’s job.
Despite Ghana struggling to dominate the game, a moment of chaos in the Angolan penalty area resulted in Antoine Semenyo scoring the winning goal. However, the absence of captain Andre Ayew was evident, and when asked about his exclusion, Hughton quickly clarified that it was his decision not to select him.
“As a head coach, you have to make difficult choices. You know the quality that Andre possesses, but you also recognize the abilities of the rest of the squad,” Hughton explained.
“Ultimately, it was my decision not to play him, but that doesn’t diminish his skills as a player. He remains a valuable member of the team.”
Hughton, who previously served as a technical advisor to the Black Stars, took over as head coach earlier this year.
