Ghana's preparation towards next week's African Cup of Nations is back on course after a furious bonus row was averted, paving the way for the friendly against Malawi to go ahead on Tuesday.
The Black Stars preparation for next week's tournament in Angola was teetering on the brink of collapse after players refused to travel to Swaziland for Tuesday's warm-up.
The Black Stars preparation for the tournament was teetering on the brink of collapse after players refused to travel to Swaziland for Tuesday's warm-up before a deal was reached.
The Ghana Football Association finally managed to convince the players that there were no financial incentives for the game before they embarked on the journey from their camping base in South Africa to the neighbouring country.
The Black Stars were scheduled to arrive in Swaziland on Monday night but they were still holding out for appearance fees which threatened the game in Mbabane.
The disturbing piece of news came just SIX DAYS before the Black Stars play their opening game at the tournament against Togo but a deal was reached to restore sanity in camp
The bonus row, which is now similar to the infamous Togo antics at the 2006 World Cup, has left the game in Mbabane in doubt.
“I don’t know when we will leave for Swaziland because of this bonus problem. It is disturbing our concentration and preparations for the Nations Cup,” a Black Stars player told Ghanasoccernet on the condition of anonymity.
The presence of injured charismatic captain Stephen Appiah was urgently needed in camp as he has in the past consistently managed to douse similar rows to the satisfaction of both players and the Ghana Football Association.
The current leaders in camp were unable to adopt diplomatic approach of Appiah and his assistant John Mensah while the Nations Cup captain Michael Essien is yet to join the team.
The row had been simmering over the past four days after the players were told that they will not receive any bonuses for playing in thegame.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) told the players that they will not earn anything from the game which seems to have infuriated the senior players in the squad.
While it is not the norm for players to be paid bonuses in preparation matches towards a major tournament, the squad members seem to have been informed that the GFA will earn some cash from the game which prompted the action from the players.
But some officials of the GFA arrived from Accra to South Africa to help extinguish the stand-off and travel across the border for the game.
While some have branded the players as traitors who are only keen on cashing in rather than serving their country, others say the players have the right to demand their pound of flesh if the GFA gains some cash from the game.
It is not known if Ghana has agreed the bonuses for the players during the African Cup of Nations.
But the issue of money if not checked could disrupt Ghana’s campaign at the tournament and shame the country the wayTogo were disgraced at the 2006 World Cup.
Ghana faces a tough challenge at theNations Cup as they take on Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo in Group B.
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