Legend Abedi enters Nyarko debate

Former Ghanaian skipper Abedi Ayew Pele says he plans to speak to Monaco coach, Didier Deschamps about Alex Nyarko's decision to quit playing for Ghana.

Nyarko announced almost two weeks ago that he will not play for Ghana again due to personal reasons.

The news came as a shock to the Ghana Football Association in which Abedi is in charge of juvenile, the treasury and foreign-based players.

But Abedi told BBC Sport Online that he had a telephone conversation with Nyarko last weekend and felt confident that the midfielder would return to international football. "Nyarko told me he will go back and reflect on his decision on whether to reverse it," Abedi said.

"I am still talking with him and I am expected to travel to France to speak with my former team mate Didier Deschamps about Nyarko's international career. "I hope to convince Deschamps that Nyarko's contribution to his national team could also boost Monaco in the French League." "I believe Nyarko understood the message I put across to him from me, a former player.

"So far the Gfa has established mutual contact with him and the discussions have been amicable. "Apart from Nyarko, I have also been telling other players in Europe that Ghana comes first.

"Like Nyarko, some of them had problems with the previous FA executive and my job now is to persuade them to honour any invitation becuase the new authorities are committed to change many things.

"I have spoken to almost 20 overseas-based players, but there is hope and enthusiasm that Nyarko in particular will reverse his decision."

A meeting between Abedi and Deschamps will be vital at this point in time.

Nyarko has been in impressive form for Monaco scoring last weekend and the move by Abedi could pave the way for the player's release in time for the Nations Cup in Mali.