Managerial inconsistency hampering Black Stars' progress – Chris Hughton

Former Ghana coach Chris Hughton has warned that frequent changes in the Black Stars technical team could undermine the national team's progress, insisting that greater stability is needed.

Ghana are preparing for a crucial double-header against Somalia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with Black Queens coach Kim Bjorkegren temporarily placed in charge of the men's team.

The Black Stars are desperate to revive their qualifying campaign after suffering consecutive defeats against Ivory Coast and The Gambia in their opening two Group C matches last month.

Those results led to the departure of Carlos Queiroz, whose second spell as Ghana coach lasted less than a month, forcing the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to appoint Bjorkegren on an interim basis.

Hughton believes the frequent changes in leadership are not helping the team, stressing that continuity is important for both players and coaches.

"When you have inconsistency in the amount of time when a manager is staying, it's never good," Hughton told BBC Sport Africa.

"You want that consistency in the players [and] the players want that consistency in what they see in the manager."

Queiroz was initially appointed in April and guided Ghana to the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars held England to a goalless draw in the group stage before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the knockout phase.

The Portuguese coach subsequently announced his departure but returned in early September, with the GFA banking on his extensive international experience.

However, his second stint ended abruptly following Ghana's 2-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in Bouake and a 4-2 loss to The Gambia in Accra.

Despite the team's recent struggles, Hughton believes Ghana showed encouraging signs at the World Cup, particularly during their encounter with England.

"What I saw in the World Cup is that they represented the country very well, particularly the England game," he said.

"And although it was very much a defensive outfit, there were opportunities to score."

The Black Stars will host Somalia in the first leg of their double-header at the Essipong Sports Stadium on Thursday, November 12, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 GMT.

Hughton also cautioned that repeated coaching changes could create an unhealthy mentality within the squad, with players potentially becoming accustomed to the idea that poor results will automatically lead to a manager's dismissal.

He believes Ghana must establish greater stability within the technical department if the team is to build consistency and achieve its ambitions.