Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has explained why midfielder Thomas Partey was conspicuously missing in Ghana’s return leg game with Angola in Luanda in the 2023 AFCON qualifier.
The Arsenal talisman put in the man-of-the-match performance when Ghana hosted Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium as he captained his side to a solitary victory at the dying embers of the game through Antoine Semenyo.
Addressing Partey’s absence in the return fixture, Hughton, in a post-match press conference, stated that the inform player had minor injury issues that posed his significant participation at risk.
“Thomas has a small injury issue and we felt it was too big of a risk to start him,” the Black Stars head coach, Chris Hughton explained” – as quoted by footballghana.
Essentially, the Black Stars’ second-half strike against Angola in the second leg of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Monday in Luanda gave them the victory.
Despite being outplayed for the bulk of the game, Ghana was able to earn a 1-1 draw, maintaining their lead in the qualifying standings and getting one step closer to earning a spot at the tournament in Ivory Coast the following year.
The bold adjustments made by Chris Hughton were crucial to Ghana’s win. After conceding a goal and finding it difficult to generate opportunities, Hughton made the decision to switch Kamaldeen Sulemana, Antoine Semenyo, and Mohamed Kudus for Joseph Paintsil, Inaki Williams, and Osman Bukari.
Source – Tru News Report
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