Ghana government must invest more in football infrastructure – Chris Hughton

Former Ghana coach Chris Hughton has urged the government to increase investment in football infrastructure and the domestic game, warning that insufficient support is hampering the country's competitiveness on the African football stage. Ghana currently faces the possibility of being eliminated from the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after losing their opening two matches in the qualifying campaign to Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

Hughton believes that the emergence of several strong African nations has made the race for continental glory more challenging, necessitating a renewed effort for Ghana to reclaim its former stature.

In an interview with the BBC, the 67-year-old former Newcastle United and Brighton manager noted that Ghana once ranked among Africa's elite football nations, but the growth of numerous other talented African nations has elevated the level of competition. "Many years ago, Ghana were at a level that was, if not the best team in Africa, certainly right up there," Hughton remarked. "You’ve seen the emergence of so many other good African nations that have made the competition levels that much higher."

Hughton also expressed concern over the state of Ghanaian domestic football, citing subpar playing surfaces and dwindling attendances as significant obstacles to the sport's development. The former manager argued that the Ghana Premier League, which has historically been a key source of talent for the national team, is no longer receiving the level of government backing it once did.

"In Ghana, the local game that used to produce so many good players, the support level is not there," Hughton said. "They’re playing on pitches that are not of a great level and the supporters are not coming."

Hughton emphasized that Ghanaian football fans remain fiercely loyal to the national team, with the Premier League being of paramount importance to them. However, he argues that the local game requires a more robust infrastructure. "The supporters in Ghana love the Black Stars most, first and foremost, and of course the Premier League is massive there, but there isn’t that support for the local game that there used to be," Hughton noted. "I think the government needs to do more as regards putting money into the infrastructure."

Hughton's remarks come during a challenging period for Ghanaian football, as the Black Stars struggle to regain momentum in their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. The four-time African champions are seeking to revitalize their performance under interim coach Kim Lars Björkegren, following Carlos Queiroz's departure. Ghana is set to face Somalia in a double-header at the Essipong Sports Stadium, aiming to secure their first points in Group C and maintain their qualification hopes.