Ghanaians call for Asamoah Gyan, Essien, and Appiah to replace sacked Hughton after AFCON23 exit
The Ghanaian public has expressed its frustration and disappointment with the performance of the Black Stars at the ongoing Afcon23 in Ivory Coast, and has called for the appointment of former players Asamoah Gyan, Michael Essien, and Stephen Appiah as the new coaches of the national team.
The Black Stars, who were among the favourites to win the tournament, crashed out of the group stage after losing to Mozambique by 2-1 on Monday. This was their third consecutive defeat, following a 1-0 loss to Cape Verde and a 3-0 thrashing by Egypt.
The dismal showing led to the sacking of coach Chris Hughton, who had been in charge of the team since July 2023. He was the fifth coach to be fired by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in the past six years.
Many Ghanaians have taken to social media to vent their anger and frustration, and to suggest possible replacements for Hughton. Some of the names that have been mentioned are Asamoah Gyan, Michael Essien, and Stephen Appiah, who are all former captains and strikers of the Black Stars.
These three players are widely regarded as some of the best and most successful in Ghana’s football history, having played for top clubs in Europe and Asia, and represented Ghana at several World Cups and Afcons.
Some of the fans believe that these players have the experience, the skills, and the passion to revive the fortunes of the Black Stars, and to inspire the current generation of players to perform better.
Moses Robert Wilson Antiri, in a Facebook comment, said that Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari should work together to raise the Ghana national team. If not, Asamoah should not take the offer alone; he should remember what they did to him at the World Cup.
He was referring to the infamous incident at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where Gyan missed a crucial penalty in the quarter-final against Uruguay, after Muntari had scored a stunning goal in the first half. Ghana lost the match on penalties, and missed the chance to become the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
However, not everyone agrees that these former players are the best candidates for the coaching job. Some of the critics argue that coaching is a different profession from playing, and that being a great player does not necessarily mean being a great coach.
They also point out that none of these players have any formal coaching qualifications or experience, and that they may not have the tactical acumen, the managerial skills, or the temperament to handle the pressure and expectations of coaching the Black Stars.
Mickay Coachito Mumin stated on the same Facebook post that, “No, coaching is not about fame; it’s all about technical competence. There’s a difference between coaching experience and being a great player at all levels. I think experience on the job, coaching, experimenting, and learning on the job in coaching are paramount. Being a great player doesn’t guarantee that you can be a great coach.”
He suggested that the GFA should look for a more qualified and experienced coach, preferably from abroad, who can bring a fresh perspective and a new approach to the team.
As it stands now, the Black Stars team has no coach, and the GFA has not announced any plans or timelines for the recruitment of a new one. The next major assignment for the team is the 2024 World Cup qualifiers, which will begin in June 2024.
The Ghanaian public is eagerly waiting to see who will be the next coach of the Black Stars, and whether they will be able to restore the pride and glory of the nation’s football.
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