Ghana Football Association considers staying at Cabinda

(From William D. Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent in Cabinda, Angola, courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports)

Cabinda, Jan. 13, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has proposed to the organizers of the 27th Edition of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in Angola to consider keeping the Black Stars in Cabinda for their last Group B game against Burkina Faso on Tuesday, January 19.

The Stars were scheduled to play the Stallions of Burkina Faso at the Luanda, Stadium to end the Group B matches, whilst Mali and Malawi are expected to fly down to Cabinda for one of the last two matches of Group A.

Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the GFA told the GNA Sports that, they have made an official request to the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to keep Ghana at Cabinda instead of them travelling to Luanda for the final group game against Burkina Faso, whilst alternative arrangement is made for the Malawi/Mali game in Luanda.

This he noted is because the absence of Togo in the competition has made simultaneous organization of two matches at the same time in the Group irrelevant.

Mr Nyantakyi said the GFA also took into consideration the stress involved in making another one hour journey by flight to Luanda for the said match and the difficulties that come with such arrangements. The FA President noted that there was the need for CAF to take serious consideration of the matter, since it will save time, energy and cost as well to the teams.

Mr Nyantakyi said they are yet to receive any response from CAF but was optimistic that it will be given the needed consideration. A negative response from CAF will thus compel the Stars to travel to Luanda for the final group game against Burkina Faso and they may stay in the capital for the quarter finals if they should qualify but fail to top their Group.

On the other hand, the Stars will have to make a return journey to Cabinda for the quarter finals should they top the Group. The Stars are scheduled to play Cote d'Ivoire in Cabinda on Friday, in a battle the Ghanaians have tagged a must win game.

It would be recalled that Togo withdrew from the competition, with just two days to commence the competition following rebel attack on their team bus on their way to Cabinda.

The attack led to the death of three people on the bus.