Ghana’s coach meets deadline but faces injury problems

Ghana’s Black Stars look set to chase honours at this month’s Cup of Nations without the services of the team’s most prolific striker, Charles Amoah, as well as the player who emerged as the most valuable player in the local league, Charles Taylor.

As the D-day approaches for Ghana to dispatch her 22-man squad to CAF, Graphic Sports investigations revealed that fitness has knocked out Charles Amoah and Hearts of Oak’s Charles Taylor and Jacob Nettey.

The failure of Amoah to recuperate fully from a reported toe injury comes as a big blow to head coach, Fred Osam-Duodu, as the Sturm Graz striker was expected to spearhead the team’s attack, in the absence of the likes of Kwame Ayew, Otto Addo, and Augustine Arhinful among other senior players who have been left out.

However, reports say the team’s technical handlers are contemplating risking Taylor with the hope that he recuperates before Ghana plays Morocco on January 20.

The uncertainty surrounding the future of Bayern Munich ace defender, Samuel Osei Kuffour was finally put to rest after he was named in the final squad together with Stephen Appiah who is also nursing a thigh injury.

Kuffour’s former club mate and soul brother, Emmanuel Duah of Portuguese side Uniao Leirra, has been given the chance to make his maiden Nations Cup appearance.

In spite of Appiah’s inclusion and Amoah’s exit, Coach Osam-Duodu’s injury worries linger on, with AC Parma’s doctor uncertain about the midfielder’s race against time to recuperate fully for Mali.

It was only at the weekend that Samuel Kuffour was given the all clear in Germany after sustaining a thigh injury that has kept him out of the field for over a month.

Appiah also picked up an injury last month in a Serie A match against Udinese and with Mali 2002 just days away, time seems to be running out on him to regain full fitness for the January 19-February 10 competition.

Last Sunday, Parma’s medical officer sounded pessimistic about the player’s readiness for Mali after receiving report on a magnetic resonance scan on Appiah. “The player has felt a strain to the adductor muscles in the right thigh and it will be very difficult for him to play in Mali,” Parma team doctor, Massimo Manera told reporters in Italy.

Nevertheless, Parma released Appiah yesterday with reluctance in order to avoid FIFA sanctions over release on time. Appiah, has however been ordered to report to the Stars’ physician, Dr. Fordjuor for further attention while in camp

Injury appears to be a big worry for the Ghanaian coach since the injured players were expected to play key roles in the team, as many of the players lack experience on such a big stage as the Nations Cup.