FA accepts shortfall and vows to make amends

Accra, Feb 7, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) accepted full responsibility for the abysmal performances of the national team, the Black Stars at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the GFA apologised to Ghanaians on Tuesday saying "the defeat was painful and regrettable especially when the nation is gearing up for the 2006 World Cup in Germany".

The Stars bowed out of the competition with only a win against Senegal and were defeated by Nigeria and Zimbabwe at the group qualifying stage.

"Our performance at the tournament exposed several inadequacies in the team and we cannot pretend as though the team was perfect", the President stated.

Mr Nyantakyi however noted that the defeat is a blessing in disguise since "it has awoken us from the slumber we found ourselves because we were probably complacent over the recent qualification of the team to the World Cup".

In finding the way forward, Mr Nyantakyi said a meeting held by the FA, technical and management committees identified some serious problems with the technical team, the quality of some of the invited players, administrative and media relations.

According to Mr Nyantakyi, the technical team will now refocus their efforts at building a winsome team for the future instead of the present situation, which seem to be an assembly of stars.

He said the coach has been asked to provide the FA with objective criteria for the selection of players to the Black Stars in order to subject invitation to the programme.

Mr Nyantakyi said a critical look would also be taken at the stock of Ghanaian players available with equal opportunity given to both local and foreign players.

The President said the technical team has also been instructed to submit as a matter of urgency a comprehensive programme for consideration.

He said the directive is aimed at making the team busy with international friendly matches that have already been lined up for them. The Stars are billed to play Mexico on March 1.

Mr Nyantakyi said a clear policy would also be drawn up for the team with regards to players who sustain injuries outside the team's camp. He added that a technical directorate would also be formed to assist the technical team.