Stars-Mexico friendly put on ice

Accra, Feb. 1, GNA - Players of the senior national team, the Black Stars have urged the management of the team to review an international soccer friendly with Mexico fixed for March this year.

The injury-ravaged Ghanaian team says it is unlikely for key players to completely recover before the match, adding that another loss ahead of the June World Cup in Germany could dampen the team's spirit. The Stars were scheduled to play the South Americans on March 1, as part of preparations towards the Mundial, but the players, aware that another major upset could incur the wrath of fans, have asked the officials to put it on ice.

Ghana, which won just one match in the three-match group D encounters, blamed the technical handlers for lack of imagination to improvise in the absence of some key players.

The team was without its key ingredients - Michael Essien, Sulley Ali Muntari and Asamoah Gyan.

While in Egypt, evergreen defender, Samuel Osei Kuffour, skipper Stephen Appiah and striker Mathew Amoah all picked up various degrees of injury.