Ghana will be represented at the 2014 FIFA World Cup draw in Brazil by a powerful delegation led by the Chief of Staff Hon Prosper Bani, Sports minister Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi.
Ghana Sports International can confirm that the first batch of the delegation for the draw, has arrived safely in Salvador, Brazil ahead of the draw on Friday.
They include the Hon Minister of Youth and Sports, the GFA boss, FA Communications Director Ibrahim Sannie Daara, FA General Secretary Emmanuel Gyimah, FA committee member George Afriyie, Vice President of the FA Fred Crentsil, Black Stars Management Committee member Felix Ansong and Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah.
The second batch is expected in Brazil on Wednesday and includes the MP for Tamale Central Dahami Alhassan, the PRO of Masloc Mustapha Abubakari, Mrs Mawuena Trebrah CEO of GIPC, GFA management member Hon. Yaw Boakye Gyan, NPP Upper East Member of Parliament for Nabdam constituency Hon. Boniface Gambilla and veteran sports journalist Kwabena Yeboah.
Friday's draw would be preceded by series of events starting with Individual meetings with FIFA Team Services on Wednesday 4th followed by a Team Seminar and a FIFA Banquet on Thursday evening.
The draw is set to take place at the plush Costa do Saiupe Hotel in Salvador, Brazil and would be followed by another set of Individual meetings with PMAs’ to mark the end of the 4-day event which concludes on Saturday 7th December.
The delegation is based on FIFA's strict criteria but governments of qualified teams are given room to include non-accredited members to assist in areas such as team administration, ticketing, hotel accommodation and so forth.
Ghana’s head coach, Kwasi Appiah will stay after the draw to inspect the venue of Ghana's group matches.
The Black Stars has been placed in Pot 3 for Friday's draw together with the Ivory Coast, Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Chile and Ecuador.
Ironically, Ghana has been knocked out of their two previous World Cup appearances by former World Cup winners;
Brazil (at the second round in 2006 and Uruguay at the quarter finals in 2010).
Although the Black Stars are set to make a third consecutive World Cup appearance in Brazil, there can be no 'easy' draw after group stage meetings with Italy, Czech Republic and the USA in 2006 followed by Germany, Australia and Serbia in 2010.
Youth and Sports Minister has indicated that the 2014 FIFA World Cup would be used to project all that is good about Ghana to Brazil and the rest of the world. A World Cup Committee is expected to be announced in conjunction with the office of the President upon the delegation's arrival in Accra next week.
FIFA 2014 World Cup draw Pots:
Pot 1: Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium and Uruguay.
Pot 2: Japan, Iran, Korea Republic, Australia, Mexico, USA and Costa Rica
Pot 3: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chile and Ecuador.
Pot 4: Netherlands, Italy, England, Portugal, Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.
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