Chris Hughton dodges blow from angry Ghana fan after Afcon loss
An angry supporter attempted to strike Ghana coach Chris Hughton after their upset loss at the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Sunday.
Officials confirmed on Monday the fan was subsequently taken away by police.
Ghana were beaten by the Cape Verde Islands after a stoppage time goal in one of several shock results on Sunday.
Hughton, who won 53 caps with the Republic of Ireland, was accosted at the team hotel as Ghana returned from the match, but the angry fan was intercepted by security officials.
Hughton was also subjected to a volley of verbal abuse, officials said.
It was a second successive defeat by an underrated opponent after Ghana lost in November in the World Cup qualifiers to the Comoros Islands.
“We are incredibly, hugely disappointed with the result. We came into the game with a game plan,” Hughton told a press conference.
“We changed the way of playing, the system a bit so that we could start on the front foot.
Cape Verde’s Jamiro Monteiro scores against Ghana’s goalkeeper Richard Ofori. Photo: Getty Images
“We thought the team that were put out was certainly a more offensive team. This was our intention.
“I think it rocked us the (first) goal that we conceded but I thought we got back into the game.”
Ghana were behind after 17 minutes in a match in which they were highly fancied and fielded a team full of players based at European clubs.
They equalised in the second half but were beaten by a stoppage time strike from Garry Rodrigues.
“At that stage (when Ghana equalised) it looked like we could go on and win it. We are hugely, hugely disappointed with our result,” Hughton said.
“And I know, and this group of players also know, how the Ghanaian people see this game, see this tournament and our expectations going into this one.”
Hughton, whose father hailed from Ghana, has been coach of the team since March, having helped them at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar as a technical advisor.
His record is four wins in 11 games. -Reuters
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