Ghana fan arrested for attacking coach Chris Hughton after defeat

A Ghana fan has reportedly been ‘arrested for attacking’ the national side’s manager Chris Hughton at the team’s hotel, following the four-time champions suffered a shock 2-1 defeat by Cape Verde on Sunday in their Africa Cup of Nations opener.

The Black Stars would suffer heartache in the second minute of injury time after a defensive mix-up would see Cape Verde’s Garry Rodrigues slide the ball past Richard Ofori in goal to seal the victory.

Videos have also emerged online showing fans inside the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidijan venting their frustrations at the result while gesticulating in anger.

And after the game, journalist Saddick Adams claimed that a supporter had attacked Hughton, but was saved by Ghanaian diplomats.

‘One member of the Ghanaian supporters in Abidjan has been arrested for an attack on coach Chris Hughton at the team’s hotel,’ he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

‘It took the intervention of some Ghanaian diplomats who were around to save the coach. The unidentified man has been handed to the Ivorian Police.’

Other reports, however, have claimed that there was no arrest made, with the fan directing foul language towards Hughton. Journalist Muftawu Nabila Abdulai said on X: ‘[I’m] told supporter was angry and used foul words on Chris Hughton and security took him away, but he’s not been arrested. In fact, there was no contact with the coach.’

Hughton took over as Ghana boss back in March 2023 after spending a year working as the side’s technical coach.

The former Tottenham, West Ham and Brentford defender has spent time managing at several clubs around the Premier League, notably leaving his position as Nottingham Forest boss back in 2021.

Following the match, Hughton said: ‘We are incredibly hugely disappointed with the result. We came into the game with a game plan to start on the front foot.

‘We came into the game with a game plan. We changed the system a bit so we can 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 goal that we conceded but I thought we got back into the game.

‘At that stage it looked like we could go on and win it. We are hugely, hugely disappointed with our result.

‘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.