Hughon Explains Partey Absence against Angola : Ghana drew 1-1 against Angola on Monday during their Match-Day Four encounter of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series in Luanda but Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey remained an unused substitute.
Osman Bukari came off the bench to score a key equalizer in the 72nd minute for the Black Stars after the home team took the lead in the 51st though Lucas Joao from the spot.
Ghana head coach Chris Hughton , after the match , explained why Partey who was expected to skipper the Black Stars did not play any part of the match at the Estadio 11 de Novembro.
“Thomas has some small issues, a small injury issue and we felt it was too big of a risk to start him,” the Ghana boss said when asked why Partey had been left on the bench.
“The strategy defensively was that Angola has some very good technical players, especially in the attacking areas. So we knew that defensively we would have to be good and we would have to be solid.
“But because they’re such a good, expansive, technical team, we wanted to use the spaces, utilise the spaces and attack fast. I thought once Angola scored the penalty, it gave us a lift, it gave us inspiration to get back into the game.” , Hughton added.
Ghana lead the Group E standings with 8 points taken from 4 games whilst Central African Republic are second with a point less. Angola are third with 5 points after 4 games and Madagascar are located at the very bottom of the table with a point.
The last two rounds of matches to complete the AFCON qualification tournament take place in June and September later this year ahead of the tournament finals in Ivory Coast in 2024.
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