Chris Hughton receives advise on Black Stars squad after appointment as Black Stars manager |

Black Stars boss Chris Hughton has been advised to keep majority of the squad that played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Former Ghana midfielder Laryea Kingston has advised newly appointed Black Stars coach Chris Hughton to keep at least 70% of the current squad.

Hughton came into office as Black Stars head coach Sunday replacing Otto Addo whose major task in his whelm of affairs saw Ghana exit the World Cup at group stage.

Before the World Cup in Qatar, Chris Hughton was labeled a major candidate for the Black Stars managerial job having went to the World Cup as technical advisor.

“Chris Hughton has been appointed to replace incumbent Otto Addo as Ghanaian National Team coach,” announcement in Eurosport reads.

“The former Ireland international had been involved with the GFA since 2021 as technical advisor to the national team and was part of Addo’s coaching staff for the Qatar World Cup last year.”

“However, following a disappointing campaign in which Ghana managed only one win and finished bottom of their group, Hughton has been moved into the top job.”

The GFA meanwhile released a statement, saying: “The appointment is in line with the vision of the GFA to continue with the project of building a formidable squad that started with Otto Addo in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament.”

As the former Brighton, Fulham and Newcastle manager prepares for his first assignment in AFCON qualifiers against Angola on 21st March, he has been advised to keep majority of his inherited squad amid Ghana’s chances into 2023 AFCON.

Laryea has been one of the Black Stars legends urging Hughton as the former Ghana Premier League superstar argued that an extensive replacement of players will hurt the team’s progress.

The former Great Olympics player believes there is a lot of quality in the current sqaud, and that bringing in a few new legs will stimulate healthy competition for a spot in the starting line up.

“I believe he’ll still maintain at least 70% of the players that went to the World Cup in the current squad. If you look at the squad that we took to the World Cup, they are not bad at all. If you try to come in and change everybody on the ground, I don’t think you have a solid team.

“You go in and you building a team…you try to bring in the quality ones that will come and give the regular players in the team competition. That’s how to build a team.

“If you have 70% out and leave 30% which means you are now coming to build the foundation from the scratch and it will take longer.”

Hughton retains assistant coaches George Boateng and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani as he takes over midway through qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

With Hughton’s success at Black Stars becoming a concern, former Black Stars right-back John Paintsil has called on Akwesi Appiah to be appointed Hughton’s assistance.

Speaking on the appointment of the new coach for the Black Stars, Paintsil suggested that Kwesi Appiah should be appointed.

“I don’t deem this as a new appointment because he was part of the team that went to Qatar and I think he was vital in decision making so I don’t see this as a new appointment,” Paintsil told Mining City Radio.

“So if he’s appointed, the only thing they have to add up is to appoint Coach Kwesi Appiah in the technical team to assist him.

“Why I’m saying this is that, Chris Hughton doesn’t know the culture of Ghana football though he’s very good in Europe and English football.

“Ghana has a football culture and Kwesi Appiah has been there for over 10 years, so he knows the “in and outs”, and I think he brought most of the young players. So going forward, if we wish for the best, he should be appointed to help Chris Hughton.”

The Black Stars currently sit top of their qualifying group, level on points with Angola.