Statement on the Black Stars

Our attention has been drawn to a report carried by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and Radio Gold claiming that Ghana attempted to bribe a Nigerien player before Monday's Africa Cup of Nations clash against Niger.

The report was filed by GNA and Radio Gold who are represented in Port Elizabeth by Veronica Commey and Nana Darkwa respectively.

We wish to state emphatically that report is false, irresponsible, reckless and mischievous.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) would like to state emphatically that there is not iota of truth in the report and it is the reckless imagination of the authors of the report.

GFA is extremely disturbing that at a time that the country is solidly behind the Black Stars to bring the Africa Cup of Nations trophy home, a tiny minority of journalists would engage in such nation-wrecking activity.

In as much as the GFA will strive to create opportunities to enhance the work of the media during this tournament, we will not condone acts meant to tarnish the image of the country.

We want to assure the people of Ghana that the team is focused on the campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations and with God on our side we will secure victory against Cape Verde on Saturday.