Hafiz Konkoni impresses Ghana coach Chris Hughton after second Black Stars training

Chris Hughton, the head coach of the Black Stars, has expressed his admiration for Hafiz Konkoni and his integration into the team as they prepare for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar this weekend.

Konkoni, a 24-year-old forward, stood out in the Ghana Premier League with his impressive performances for Bechem United in the recently concluded season. Although he fell short of winning the golden boot, scoring 15 goals compared to Abednego Tetteh’s tally of 18, Konkoni’s contributions did not go unnoticed.

Having participated in all the training sessions held at the Accra Sports Stadium, Konkoni has showcased his abilities to the satisfaction of coach Chris Hughton.

The coach, who already had high expectations for the promising striker, had the opportunity to watch him play live and has also studied video footage of his performances. Hughton commended Konkoni’s performance in training, stating that it was not surprising considering the talent he had observed before. Despite his young age, Hughton noted that Konkoni displays a level of maturity beyond his years.

“I was fortunate to watch him live last weekend. I have been able to watch him on video. I thought he did well today [in training]. It wasn’t a surprise because he is a player I have enjoyed watching. He is a young player so I think he has a lot of development still. Speaking to him I think he is quite a mature player for his age,” Chris Hughton shared.

Hafiz Konkoni will be eager to make his debut for the Black Stars as they face the Bareas on Sunday, June 18, in Antananarivo.