Black Stars opt for Kenya

By The NewsDay | Oct. 3, 2012 | 2 Min read

The Black Stars of Ghana will camp in Kenya ahead of their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) second leg against Malawi, turning down an invitation from Zifa to play the Warriors next week.

Report by Wellington Toni Sports Editor

Warriors needed a friendly enroute to Angola for their own second leg against Palancas Negras on October 14. This leaves the Warriors hoping that Malawi, who play Botswana in Gaborone would be the only other available option.

Reports from Ghana yesterday indicated that Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah opted for a Kenyan camp after naming a 21-member squad for the Malawi tie.

Espanyol’s Mubarak Wakaso and Asante Kotoko midfielder Daniel Nii Adjei have both been called up.

Veteran John Pantsil leads the quintet of players making a return to the squad after his last outing for the national team in March this year. Also returning to the Black Stars are David Addy, Jonathan Mensah, Rabiu Mohammed and goalkeeper Philemon McCarthy.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are seeking another appearance in the Tusker Cecafa Cup that will be staged in Kampala, Uganda, in November.

Zifa have written to the Central and East African body seeking a place in the cash-rich championships, but will face stiff competition from African champions, Zambia, the 2012 Afcon finalists Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Malawi.

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Malawi and Zimbabwe were the two guest teams last year in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The tournament will be held in Kampala between November 24 and December 8.

Cecafa general secretary Nicholas Musonye confirmed the applications, but said the regional body will have to meet and make a decision on whom to admit. The meeting is expected after the return leg matches of the final round of the 2013 Afcon qualifiers next weekend.

“(But) the decision to invite guest teams will depend on a vacuum created by member countries,” Musonye told Supersport.com.