Winning AFCON is difficult now – Chris Hughton

According to Ghana head coach Chris Hughton, should the Black Stars qualify for Côte d’Ivoire 2024, it will be even harder to end the nation’s 41-year AFCON drought.

If the Black Stars win their final qualifier at home against Central African Republic in September, they will advance to the tournament.

Hughton believes that in order for the Black Stars to win the trophy, they will need to perform at the top of their game due to the increase in the quality of the teams on the continent.

“Once you get there, what you want to do is perform and perform well,” he said in an interview with talkSPORT.

“One thing I have seen during the travels on the games we’ve played is that the level of the African countries now in football has improved absolutely no doubt. I think it’s because of the infrastructure; [there is] so much more now.

“The African players play at a good level with good clubs, Europeans with good structure. There are some balances now. What we regarded as the lesser footballing countries have now improved. So, the competition is greater.”

After getting close in 2010 and 2015, Ghanaians are hoping Hughton will be the man to end the drought.