Ghana’s head coach, Chris Hughton, openly acknowledged his team’s vulnerability in their recent encounter with Mexico at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte this past Saturday. In his first loss as head coach of the Black Stars, the Irish-born Ghanaian faced a formidable Mexican side, El Tri, in an international friendly.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Hirving Lozano found the back of the net, followed by a goal from substitute Uriel Antuna in the 72nd minute, granting Mexico a comfortable victory. This match served as a crucial preparation game ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, set to kick off next month.
During the post-match press conference, Chris Hughton openly admitted that his team struggled to contend with Mexico’s relentless intensity, leading to the concession of poorly defended goals. “I believe both goals we conceded were the result of defensive lapses from our side, making it an uphill battle to regain control,” Hughton conceded.
This defeat marked Hughton’s first setback after achieving two wins and two draws in his previous four games as head coach. The Black Stars’ next challenge awaits as they prepare to face the US Men’s Soccer team at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.