Black Stars coach, Chris Hughton, shed light on his decision to substitute Osman Bukari just 16 minutes after introducing him during Ghana’s intense 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) clash against Egypt.
In the high-stakes encounter on Thursday night, Ghana surrendered a lead twice due to defensive errors, with one pivotal mistake arising from Bukari after he came on as a substitute for Inaki Williams in the 73rd minute. Williams had previously conceded possession with a poorly executed back pass, leading to Egypt’s equaliser.
While the swift decision to substitute Bukari may have raised eyebrows, Hughton defended the move, highlighting the impact of the mistake on the player’s performance.
“We like Osman Bukari a lot, and we have a lot of faith in him. I have to make decisions on the bench for what I see, and my feeling is there were a lot of emotions in the game,” stated Hughton.
“He is a very committed and honest player. At that moment, I thought the mistake affected him in the game. This is not normal, so to make this decision is because of what myself and the coaches see. This doesn’t take anything away from what we feel about him and the type of player and individual he is. But there are some tough decisions sometimes you have to make as a coach.”
Ghana, still in search of their first win, is set to face a crucial must-win encounter against Mozambique on Monday. The outcome of this match will determine their fate in advancing to the next stage of the competition.