2023 AFCON: “We know we have to beat Mozambique to qualify” – Chris Hughton

Black Stars Head Coach, Chris Hughton, has expressed the team’s awareness of the task tonight as they face the Mambas of Mozambique at 8 pm at the Alassane Outtara Olympique Stadium in the final group B clash.

This will be the second meeting between Mozambique and Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations after facing off in the group stage of the 1996 edition. Ghana won that clash 2-0.

Mozambique have also never beaten Ghana. They have lost four of their six meetings in all competitions (D2).

With one point apiece after two matches, Ghana and Mozambique both need to win to stand any real chance of qualifying for the last 16.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Hughton is optimistic about Ghana’s chances of qualifying for the round of 16.

We are all aware that this is the situation and that we have to win, we would have preferred if we had a win in our earlier game against Egypt and that would have placed us in a better position, but we are not.

So the conversation is not difficult, this is a game we have to win, with regards to the level of performance, i think most people and the players appreciate the level of performance against Egypt.

So the players know, what it would take to get a result against Mozambique, there are no easy games in this tournament [Africa Cup of Nations].

We are coming up against a Mozambiqan side, also knowing that they have to win the game and stand any chance of progressing.

We have to be physically and mentally prepared for this and the players know this.

Ghana are on their longest-ever winless run at the Africa Cup of Nations (six games, D3 L3).

They’ve only won one of their last 11 matches in the competition (D5 L5) – a 2-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau in the 2019 group stage. 

On the part of Mozambique – 

They are winless at the Africa Cup of Nations (P14 D3 L11), the joint most any nation has played without winning at AFCON, along with Benin.

The Mambas are also one game away from equalling the most games played without a clean sheet unless they record a shutout against Ghana, with Zimbabwe currently holding that unwanted record of 15 games.

Both countries are heading into the final Group B clash knowing that a win would qualify them as one of the third-placed teams.

Ghana sits third in Group B with 1 point after losing to Cape Verde in the opening game and holding Egypt to a two-all draw in the second game.

Mozambique, bottom of the group, also with a single point, after losing to Cape Verde by three goals to 0 in the second group game.