Popular Ghanaian football manager Isaac “Opeele” Boateng says sacked Black Stars coach Chris Hughton cannot be faulted for the team’s woes in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Instead he believes the problems with the Black Stars have been lingering on for years.

“I think that Gattuso (referring to the interviewer) Chris Hughton was not the problem. He made himself the problem by making bad selections, bad substitutions, indecisions and that caused him. But he’s not the problem,” he added.

Speaking in a conversation with the Original Super Sports Show host, the former Tema Youth manager traced the Black Stars challenges to the termination of Coach Kwasi Appiah’s contact which he opines was a wrong decision.

“The problem started when Kwasi Appiah was fired. Privately, I told my friend Kurt E. S. Okraku (The President of the Ghana Football Association) that Kwasi Appiah’s sacking was wrong. Let’s not look at the issue from one angle. We should consider the historical antecedent”

“Kwasi Appiah’s sacking was wrong, the timing was wrong. He should have been given time for CK (his successor) to learn under him before he takes over. We didn’t give Kwasi the ample time and that was a populist sacking because the public were demanding for that. Then CK (Akunor) comes in, Milo, Otto Addo and Hughton. We can’t shift the blame on anyone for bringing in Hughton. If we had solved the problem at day one this would have never happened.”

He further tasked the Ghana Football Association to find a topnotch coach to manage the senior men football national team, stating that the country’s footballing body has failed to hire a good coach for the Black Stars on three consecutive times.

Ghana made their 24th appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations but failed to once again impress, finishing 3rd in group B with just 2 points.

Subsequently, the Ghana FA relieved Coach Chris Hughton of his duties.