Following Ghana’s shocking defeat at the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Sunday, an enraged fan attempted to attack coach Chris Hughton. Police removed the man, team officials said on Monday.
One of numerous unexpected outcomes on Sunday saw the smallest of the 24 teams competing in the competition, the Cape Verde Islands, defeat Ghana with a goal in stoppage time in the Ivory Coast.
As Ghana returned from the game, Hughton was confronted at the team hotel, but security personnel stopped the irate supporter.
Ghana coach Hughton escapes beatings from angry fan at team hotel
Hughton received a barrage of verbal abuse as well, officials told Reuters.
It was the second straight loss by an underdog opponent, following Ghana’s November World Cup qualifying loss to the Comoros Island.
“We are incredibly, hugely disappointed with the result. We came into the game with a game plan, ”Chris Hughton told a press conference.
“We changed the way of playing, the system a bit so that we could start on the front foot.
“We thought the team that were put out was certainly a more offensive team. This was our intention.
“I think it rocked us the (first) goal that we conceded, but I thought we got back into the game.”
Ghana was behind after 17 minutes in a match in which it was highly fancied and fielded a team full of players based at European clubs.
It equalised in the second half but was beaten by a stoppage-time strike from Garry Rodrigues.
“At that stage (when Ghana equalised) it looked like we could go on and win it. We are hugely, hugely disappointed with our result,” Hughton said.
“And I know, and this group of players also know, how the Ghanaian people see this game, see this tournament and our expectations going into this one.”
Former Ireland international Hughton, whose father hailed from Ghana, has been coach of the team since March, having helped it at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar as a technical advisor.
His record is four wins in 11 games.