The Black Stars hotel in Abidjan has heightened security measures following a confrontation between a fan and coach Chris Hughton after Ghana’s underwhelming performance against Cape Verde on Sunday evening.
The Black Stars were defeated 2-1 in their opening match and face an early elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Despite the Ghana Football Association’s efforts to downplay the incident, the team’s hotel, the Pullman Abidjan, has taken serious measures to prevent any future occurrences.
The hotel is a nine-minute drive from the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny, where the team will return on Thursday to try and revitalise their campaign with a victory over Egypt.
Under pressure to deliver, coach Hughton will have to make a difficult decision regarding the inclusion of attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus in the starting lineup.
Kudus, who missed the team’s opening game due to a hamstring injury, has rejoined the squad for training. According to Ghana FA spokesperson Asante Twum, Kudus participated in full team training on Monday and is being assessed by the medical team. If all goes well, he is expected to be fit enough to feature against Egypt.
Kudus’ return could not have come at a better time for the Black Stars, who struggled offensively in their opener without their star forward. The team’s attacking capabilities were limited. With Kudus back in the fold, the team’s chances of success against Egypt have improved.
Asante Twum explained that Kudus typically splits his training sessions, joining the physios for personal training outside of the group during the first 15-20 minutes. However, he trained with the rest of the squad for the entire period, a positive sign for his availability in the upcoming match. The medical team is still assessing him, but Twum expressed confidence that Kudus will be ready for the match by Wednesday or Thursday.
Coach Hughton must weigh the benefits of including Kudus in the starting lineup against the risk of aggravating his injury. With a must-win situation against Egypt, Hughton needs to put forth his strongest team. Still, he must also ensure that Kudus is fully recovered to avoid jeopardizing his health and the team’s prospects. It’s a delicate balance that requires careful consideration.