Vice President of the Ghana Football Association and Management Committee chairman for the Black Stars George Afriyie has admitted their outfit is struggling to find test matches for the Black Stars team before the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
Footy-ghana.com reported early Friday that Morocco had pulled out of a proposal from Ghana to play a friendly because they considered the notice too short.
The FA had considered playing test matches on January 7 and January 10 for Avram Grant’s side before they head to Gabon. But that appears to be proving more difficult than originally perceived as the FA has now admitted they are struggling to find opponents for the Black Stars.
“We are facing challenges as far as the friendly matches are concerned,” vice-President of the Ghana FA George Afriyie told Kumasi-based Kessben FM.
“We are hoping that by close of day, we’re able to resolve it.
“We are struggling to find opponents. We lodge in the same hotel with Morocco but they are not prepared to play us in a friendly.”
Afriyie has however indicated their problems (in finding friendlies) is largely attributable to their finances.
The Black Stars budget of $3.4m for the tournament has yet to be approved by government.
“There are other teams that we are speaking to and hoping to confirm but all this [struggle] has to do with our budget which has not been approved. We are even here in Al Ain without a budget. We hope that this will change very soon.”
Ghana are camping in the UAE and will fly out to Gabon on January 13, a day before the tournament kicks off. They are housed in group D alongside Egypt, Mali and Uganda.
