Ex-Norwich City boss Chris Hughton is helping plot Ghana’s bid to reach the World Cup knock-out stages. 

The Black Stars edged an epic Group H encounter against South Korea 3-2 on Monday to bounce back from an opening 3-2 defeat to top seeds Portugal. 

Hughton, who kept Norwich City in the Premier League before he was dismissed towards the end of his second campaign after replacing Paul Lambert in 2012, agreed to become Ghana’s technical director while on a family holiday visiting his father’s birthplace. 

The 63-year-old was a player when the Republic of Ireland reached the knock out phase in Italia 90, and is now a win away against Uruguay from repeating the same feat. 

The ex-Brighton and Nottingham Forest boss has used his connections to get the likes of Premier League duo Tariq Lamptey and Mohammed Salisu to link up with the Black Stars.  

“I was fortunate to be involved with the Republic of Ireland, which is where my mother is from. But my father is from Accra, Ghana," he said. "I always had that link and to be working for them in this capacity makes me incredibly proud. It is exciting to see what this team can do.  

“Technical advisor can mean different things. But my role is very much a support role for the technical staff.

"We have brought in some new members as well. We like to think we are well-prepared team so it is a support mechanism for the head coach, who I am thoroughly enjoying working with. But there is also that link between the technical staff and the association.” 

Hughton, speaking on the BBC’s World Football in Qatar podcast, revealed he had to perform an initiation song as part of his acceptance into the close-knit group.  

"I can tell you in all my years as a player or a coach it is the first initiation that I have done,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you the song. I knew it but the only good thing is in this day of social media my one request was I would do it provided no-one videoed it. And they didn’t.

"For me not to do it wouldn’t have felt right. I must admit I didn’t mind, everyone has done one and it carries on those traditions, African traditions, and reflects what Ghana brings to the continent.

"Even if a percentage of the squad have been born or brought up in different countries. We want the best squad possible. We have a lot of players at good clubs in good leagues. 

“It is a wonderful experience to be at this tournament. This is the reason why we are here. The first result wasn’t the one we wanted. We were up against one of the quality teams in this World Cup and probably the top seeds in our group but we are here for performances over the entire three group games.”