GFA rejects Ghana/Burkina Faso friendly game

Accra, Nov. 2, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has rejected a proposal from the Burkina Faso Football Federation (BFF) for an international friendly match between the Black Stars and the Stallions.

Information gathered by the GNA Sports reveals that the West African neighbours last Friday wrote to the GFA requesting for a friendly match with the Black Stars on Tuesday, November 2, but the FA claims the time frame for the request was too short to raise a team for the match. It was also gathered that the FA again rejected the proposal with the reasons that the Stars have an impending World Cup qualifying match with the Stallions next year, hence it will not be prudent to engage the Stallion in any match before then.

Mr Fred Pappoe, a member of the Management Board of the GFA confirmed the proposal to the GNA Sports when he was contacted and cited the above reasons for the rejection of the friendly match. According to Mr. Pappoe, the management board has directed the secretariat of the FA to get in touch with the Burkinabe's and inform them about their decision.

Mr Pappoe said that should the Burkinabe's insist on the match, the FA will be compelled to present a team "B" for the match which he said would not be appropriate.

Ghana is placed second in Group Two in the same group with Burkina Faso's Stallions.

The Stars lost the first round match by a lone goal to the Stallions in Ouagadougou early this year.

The GFA is currently seeking for the services of a competent coach to handle the Black Stars following the sudden departure of Portuguese national, coach Mariano Barreto.