FIRED: AFCON manager sacked after shock early exit

Another manager has now been sacked following his side's shock early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

The Ghana Football Association has confirmed Chris Hughton's departure after the side's underwhelming performance at the continental competition in the Ivory Coast.

The Black Stars completed the group stage in third position in Group B with a goal difference of minus one, picking up just two points from their three encounters. They suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde in their opener, followed by 2-2 draws with both Egypt and Mozambique. 

While it may have been a frustrating campaign for Ghana, they would have held on to the hope of being one of the four best third-placed teams who make it to the round of 16. However, teams such as Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mauritania, and Namibia, occupy the third spot in their respective groups with more points. 

Consequently, the decision to relieve Hughton – who was appointed in February 2022 – of his duties was made on Tuesday night. 

"The Executive Council has also taken a decision to dissolve the technical team of the Black Stars," the nation's FA said in a statement. 

"The Ghana Football Association will in the coming days provide a roadmap on the future direction of the Black Stars."

The former Norwich boss was under pressure immediately after their opening-day defeat, when an aggrieved fan reportedly went to the team hotel hours after the result and verbally attacked him. He is said to have then been dragged away by police. 

The FA, however, gave the manager "100% assur­ance" that they were solidly behind him after that incident. 

Following the latest round of matches, it is the Black Stars' Group B rivals Cape Verde and Egypt who will progress to the round of 16. 

Hughton's dismissal comes after Tanzania parted ways with manager Adel Amrouche following remarks he made about Morocco, claiming that the Atlas Lions had influence on the game between earlier in the showpiece. 

CAF reportedly hit the coach from Algeria with a $10 000 (about R190 250) fine and banned him for eight matches, before he was ultimately fired by the country's football federation. 

Gambia's Tom Saintfiet is another manager who has been relieved of his duties in recent hours following their exit from the tournament in the Ivory Coast.