In a heated post-match scene at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a sports journalist launched a scathing attack on Black Stars coach Chris Hughton following Ghana’s 2-2 draw against Mozambique.
The national team’s lackluster performance in the tournament, failing to secure a single win, fueled the journalist’s discontent.
After the match, journalists gathered at the mixed zone, anticipating the customary engagement with players and the technical team.
The team had initially planned to bypass the media and head straight to the team bus, strategically parked in front of the dressing room entrance. However, persistent media insistence compelled some players and coaches to use the mixed zone.
Kofi Owusu Jerry, a journalist covering the Black Stars, took the opportunity to express his dissatisfaction with Coach Hughton’s tactics. His frustration reached a boiling point, leading to a barrage of insults directed at the coach and his technical team. Owuraku Ampofo, a 3Sports journalist, attempted to intervene to calm the situation but his anger was out of control.
The Ghana Media here have taken it upon ourselves to sack whoever deserves a sack.
Hughton is the first. The rest should come
The CAF Security should be calm, we will be under control. pic.twitter.com/xf9OGBDptR
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) January 22, 2024
Owusu Jerry, unimpressed with the team’s performance, squarely blamed Hughton for the unfavourable outcome, accusing the coach and his technical team of incompetence.
The journalist’s verbal attack has stirred mixed reactions from the public, with some supporting his critique and others deeming the insults unprofessional and unnecessary.
As Ghana hangs on to a slim lifeline in the tournament, their hopes rely on favourable outcomes in the final round of matches. The team is banking on Algeria and Zambia losing their respective matches, and ideally, Cameroon dropping points to secure a third-place ranking and progress to the next stage.