The Chris Hughton era begins as Ghana prepares to host Angola for an AFCON 2023 qualifier. This match sets up an exciting double header as the return fixture will be played in Angola on Monday, according to the fixture list. Both teams are tied with 4 points at the top of Group E, making Thursday’s encounter a finely balanced affair.
In their previous matches, Ghana secured a 3-0 win over Madagascar at home before drawing 1-1 with the Central African Republic in a match played in Angola due to civil conflict in C.A.R. Angola, on the other hand, started their campaign with a 2-1 win against C.A.R followed by a 1-1 away draw with Madagascar.
Thursday’s match will also mark the first game for Technical Advisor turned Head Coach, Chris Hughton, who is taking his first steps into National team football management. The 64-year-old has a wealth of experience in the English game, having managed over 400 games at various clubs.
Ghana finds itself at a critical juncture. Despite being regarded as a powerhouse in African football, their failure to win the AFCON in 40 years has tarnished their legacy. The recent AFCON campaign in 2021 was particularly disappointing, as the Black Stars failed to secure a victory and suffered a humiliating loss to underdogs Comoros. Although qualifying for the 2022 World Cup against arch-rivals Nigeria provided some hope, their lackluster performance in the tournament and a demoralizing defeat to despised opponents Uruguay sent the Black Stars crashing back down to earth.
In contrast, Angola has struggled to replicate their success in the mid to late 2000s, when they defied the odds by qualifying for the 2006 World Cup and subsequently reaching consecutive AFCON quarter-finals, which marked the team’s best performance to date. Since then, their fortunes have declined, and despite the tournament’s expansion, they have only managed to qualify for three of the last six AFCONs, falling short each time. Following their absence from the previous edition, the Black Antelopes are eager to make a triumphant return to Africa’s premier football competition.
The primary challenge facing Chris Hughton is how to optimize the talent of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey. Partey has established himself as one of the top midfielders in the English Premier League, and Arsenal has won 19 out of the 23 matches he has played in, losing only one. He combines defensive stability with precise passing and deadly shooting. Partey ranks second in passes into the final third with 177 and ninth in progressive passes with 173. He has also scored with an impressive 75% of his shots on target, indicating that when he tests the goalkeeper, he usually succeeds. Additionally, he completes 73% of his take-ons, which is surprisingly the lowest percentage of his Arsenal career so far.
Although less significant, there are still important questions regarding how Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus and Joseph Paintsil will be utilized as attackers. Paintsil has been exceptional in the Belgian top flight, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists in the league, marking a career-high season for the forward. Similarly, Kudus has earned his spot in the Ajax lineup, scoring 11 league goals which ranks him 3rd in the Dutch Eredivisie. His impressive goal-scoring form was demonstrated by his 2 goals at the World Cup.
The success of the Black Stars in their upcoming game will depend on how effectively they can contain Angolan striker M’Bala Nzola. Although not well-known among Ghanaian fans, Nzola is in excellent form, having scored 12 goals in Serie A, with only Victor Osimhen and Lautaro Martinez scoring more. This achievement is no fluke, as he also managed to score 11 Serie A goals in the previous season. Despite playing for Spezia, a team in the 17th position, his goal-scoring prowess cannot be ignored. Hence, Ghana’s defense must be at their best to prevent him from scoring.
