Chris Hughton, the coach of the Black Stars, has given an explanation for why captain Andre Dede Ayew was left out Ghana’s starting XI in the game against Angola.
The Black Stars defeated the Palancas Negras of Angola 1-0 on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi with captain Andre Dede Ayew sitting on the bench.
After the game, the absence of the Nottingham Forest star dominated the headlines, despite Thomas Partey taking over the captaincy duties and leading the club to victory.
Chris Hughton, who emphasized the captain’s qualities when discussing his decision to bench Andre Ayew at the post-game press conference, said that he made the right choice for the team.
“As a head coach, you have to make difficult decisions. You know the quality that Andre possesses, but you also know the quality of the rest of the squad,” Hughton said.
“Ultimately, it was my choice not to play him, but that doesn’t reflect on his abilities as a player. He remains a valuable member of the team.”
The Black Stars after beating Angola 1-0 are now on top of the Group E table with 7 points ahead of the return leg in Luaanda on Monday, March 27, 2023.