Black Stars Head Coach is prepared to "learn" as the pressure to qualify for the World Cup mounts.

Before the commencement of Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, speculation about head coach Chris Hughton's future with the Black Stars intensifies. Hughton claims he will "learn from previous experienc­es."

Hughton is under fire after the West Africans defeated 2-0 to Mexico and 4-0 to the United States in friendlies last month. Hughton is preparing the team for games against Madagascar and Comoros.

The 64-year-old claims that despite the heightened speculation, he is totally focused on the task at hand.

The former manager of Brighton and Newcastle told BBC Africa, "As a coach, it's my job to learn from our players' performances and how we can improve, because ultimately you're playing competition games two World Cup qualifiers."

"We have two games that we need to win.

"As the Black Stars' coach, it is my responsibility to ensure that the team produces its finest performances and outcomes. Sometimes you can't obtain that.

But regardless of how positive or negative your past experiences were, you can always learn from them. In the end, I'll put in my best effort to try to do things in the most effective manner possible.

Chris Hughton has called up Ghanaian captain Andre "Dede" Ayew, who was left out of the team that played Mexico and the United States, for the home game against Madagascar on November 17 and the away game against Comoros on November 18.

For the remainder of the 2023–2024 season, Ayew, 33, has committed to the French team Le Havre as a free agent.

Hughton claims the forward is essential to the national lineup. Hughton captained the Black Stars for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Ghana was eliminated in the group stage.

The Irishman continued, "DedeAyew is still a very good player and somebody that can be the best player in training."

"He is a very good influence on the younger players in the squad and has extra importance because he is the captain." Therefore, it's more important to consider his value to the team than merely his ability to play.

The winners of Group I will secure a spot in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Ghana will also compete against Mali, the Central African Republic, and Chad for a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Ghanaian supporters are eager for their country to win when the Africa Cup of Nations begins in Ivory Coast on January 13.

Since 1982, when they won their fourth and last Nations Cup, the Black Stars have not won the coveted championship. They were drawn with Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique in Group B.

Hughton, nevertheless, insists that his team must maintain concentration as their World Cup qualifying campaign begins next week.

"Talking about the AFCON is a great idea, but as coaches, it can be challenging at times because we have two very important games before then," he stated.
"I believe you can lose focus on what is currently the most important thing—our World Cup qualifying games—if your concentrations are too far beyond that.

"Our goal is to perform well in these matches, emerge victorious, and have a strong momentum heading into the AFCON." But first things first: these World Cup qualifications.

Hughton anticipates fierce competition from several nations in the Nations Cup, Ivory Coast.

He continued, "The caliber of teams competing in Africa and the Africa Cup of Nations right now is as strong as it has ever been, including Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, and Tunisia."

"There are a lot more players playing for major European teams and competing internationally, which makes the AFCON both more difficult and exciting for everyone."

"We have a fantastic history, and the Black Stars are a globally recognized nation and football team wherever you talk about them. Naturally, that ultimately boils down to the Black Stars' past.

Like many of the countries that would compete in the Nations Cup early in the next year, Ghana boasts a long list of players who play at some of the best leagues in Europe top club.

Thomas Partey of Arsenal, Mohammed Kudus of West Ham, and Jordan Ayew of Crystal Palace will all be leaving their respective Premier League teams to play in Ivory Coast, but Hughton said his players are entirely committed on representing their nation.

Nothing that I've seen suggests they aren't totally dedicated. The camaraderie among the campers is amazing," he remarked.

And I have the utmost confidence that every player who shows up for the Black Stars does so out of a desire to play and give it his all.

Hughton thinks that prior disputes between clubs and countries have subsided and that coaches throughout Europe are now more understanding of the circumstances.

"The majority of teams, managers, and head coaches now realize that if they sign an African player, there's a chance they can lose him for a while during the African Cup of Nations.

Thus, it's very much a thing of the past, and I believe that the current technical staff and club understand that this is going to happen.

The post Black Stars Head Coach is prepared to "learn" as the pressure to qualify for the World Cup mounts, appeared first on Ghanaian Times.