2023 AFCON: Not even Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti can guarantee results - Henry Asante Twum backs Chris Hughton

The Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum has backed Black Stars coach, Chris Hughton for failing to guarantee winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The West African country who are four-time African champion last won the continent's prestigious trophy. Ghana has come close in 1992, 2010 and 2015 but finished as runners-up.

Following the release of Black Stars' final 27-man squad for the 34th edition of the AFCON in Ivory Coast which gets underway from January 13 to February 11, the former Premier League gaffer failed to guarantee he will lead the team to end the country's 41-year trophy drought.

According to Mr Asante Twum, factors come into play in major tournaments and further said not even top-class coaches like Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti can guarantee results.

"Chris Hughton knows the history of Ghana and he knows that we have won the AFCON on four occasions he is aware that we have an expectant crowd that really to win every game and not by winning but to win handsomely so it is a major thing he is trying to fix," he told Accra based Woezor TV.

"But I also want to mention that not Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti or Maxi Allegri who are top coaches across the globe can guarantee results because factors sometimes affect performance.

He continued, "You can be leading in a game and concede a deflected goal in the 90^th minute and the game will be thrown into penalty shootouts and you will end up losing. You can be leading 3-0 and the opponent would find a way to equalize all three goals and another penalty shootout will happen.

"We saw that in the Community Shield between Manchester City and Arsenal where City took the lead but Arsenal scored with a deflected shot and Arsenal later won on penalty shootouts so it is a fact that no coach can guarantee results," he added.

The Black Stars opened camp in Kumasi on Tuesday, January 2 with Jordan Ayew and Inaki Williams expected to join camp today.

Ghana have been housed in Group B for the tournament and will face Cape Verde, Egypt and Mozambique in the tournament.

The Black Stars of Ghana will first come up against Cape Verde at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 14, 2024, then face Egypt at the same venue four days later and then Mozambique at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on January 22, 2024.