GFA Finally Yields to Public Pressure, Shifts Training Camp from Johannesburg to Kumasi for 2023 AFCON

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has finally yielded to public pressure and shifted its training camp for the Black Stars ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana was originally scheduled to open a training camp in South Africa from Sunday, December 31, 2023, for ten days ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Tournament in Cote D’Ivoire.

That decision generated huge controversy among a section of the populace who questioned the rationale of such a decision considering the tournament was being held in the neighbouring Ivory Coast.

Following a review meeting between the Management and the Technical Team of the Black Stars, the FA has decided to change plans to camp the team in South Africa and opted to camp in Kumasi beginning Tuesday, January 2, 2023.

The International friendly against Botswana scheduled on Monday, January 8, 2023, in Johannesburg, is called off and the FA is working on finding a new opponent for the team as part of the build-up to the tournament in Abidjan.”

“The Association is mindful of the request of the Black Stars Technical Team for a quiet and serene camping atmosphere, and thus, the hotel will be strictly inaccessible to the public and the media,” the GFA said in a communication.

The statement also added that the training sessions will be behind closed doors and not available to the public and media.

The team will, however, organise a session with the media. The friendly match will also be open to the public, after which there will be a post-match press conference with the media.”

Ghana is paired in Group B alongside giants Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.