Chris Hughton Tasked To Qualify Ghana For 2026 World Cup

Chris Hughton, the former Newcastle manager, has been given the task to guide Ghana to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

This comes after the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, revealed that qualifying for the next World Cup is among the four main targets agreed upon for the head coach of the Black Stars.

Hughton signed a 21-month contract and has already begun working, earning four points from the team’s recent doubleheader with Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Hon. Ussif stated that reaching the next AFCON, identifying local talents from the league, improving Ghana’s ranking in the FIFA Ranking, and qualifying for the World Cup are the objectives in the contract that Hughton has signed.

To achieve the objective of identifying local talents, Hughton has been spotted several times at various match venues, observing the performances of local-based players.

His next task is to assemble a squad for Ghana’s upcoming fixtures in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Central African Republic.

The Ghanaian football team has always been a force to reckon with on the African continent, and Hughton’s appointment could be a significant boost to their ambitions to compete at the global level.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion manager has vast experience managing top-flight teams in England, and his tactical nous and ability to identify and develop players could be invaluable to the Black Stars.

Ghana last appeared at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, where they were knocked out in the group stage. However, with Hughton at the helm, the team will be hoping to make a significant impact in the 2026 tournament.

Hughton’s appointment is a clear indication of the Ghana Football Association’s determination to take Ghanaian football to new heights and compete with the world’s best.