Former player for the Black Stars, Thomas Duah, has expressed his belief that no individual, including the current expatriate coach Chris Hughton, possesses the capability to improve the national team.
This statement follows Ghana’s inability to secure AFCON 2023 qualification after a draw against Madagascar in Antananarivo.
According to Duah, the current performance of the team has brought the system of player selection for national representation under scrutiny.
Thomas Duah responded to the question of whether Chris Hughton is building the Black Stars in the right direction:
“Nobody can build the Black Stars; anyone who claims otherwise is a liar. We’re only practising ‘trying your luck’ and nothing else. Listen, the system for inviting players is flawed, and it is causing our national teams to fail,” he said.
“How do you build a team by bringing in different players for different games, and how do you find cohesion and understanding?” We don’t put together teams like that.
Look, there are five or four Bayern Munich club players in the German national team, and there are more than five Barcelona players in the Spanish national team, so there is always telepathy.”
“Ours isn’t like that. The local players have been left out; gone are the days when the Black Stars insisted on only local players, and that was what won us the trophy,” he added.
Ghana has won four African Cup of Nations trophies in 23 appearances, winning in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1987.
Ghana will hope to make their 24th AFCON appearance in Ivory Coast by defeating the Central African Republic in September.