Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has asserted that none of his players are automatic starters ahead of the team’s crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Madagascar.
The team began training on Monday in Accra and are expected to continue until Thursday and eventually leave for the clash which will be played in Antananarivo on Sunday.
Addressing the media on Tuesday after the team’s training, Hughton emphasised the competition in various positions in the team which makes it difficult to stick with certain players throughout adding that all the players are trying their best to earn starting berths.
“There is no absolute standout first XI,” he told the media after the team’s training session.
“Whatever the squad is, whether 23, 24 or 25, players are all pushing to want to start.
“For expectation as a coach, you always have to give your players all of the information and when we do our homework and when we watch our opponent, there isn’t one that we think we are going win this game easy.”
Chris Hughton who has managed only two Black Stars games since taking over in March demonstrated his words by excluding Ghana captain Andre Ayew from the matchday squad in their previous qualifier against Angola in Kumasi.
The team is expected to continue training on Wednesday as they prepare to secure a spot in the next AFCON to be held in Ivory Coast.
