The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has disclosed a change in plans for the national football team, the Black Stars, regarding their pre-tournament preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Originally slated to open a training camp in South Africa from Sunday, December 31, 2023, for 10 days, the Black Stars will now shift their camp to Kumasi, starting on Tuesday, January 2, 2023. This decision follows a comprehensive review meeting between the GFA's Management and Technical Team.
The previously scheduled international friendly against Botswana, set for Monday, January 8, 2023, in Johannesburg, has been called off. The GFA is actively working to secure a new opponent as part of the team's build-up to the AFCON tournament in Cote d'Ivoire.
In response to the request from the Black Stars Technical Team for a quiet and serene camping atmosphere, the team's hotel in Kumasi will be strictly off-limits to the public and the media. Additionally, training sessions will be conducted behind closed doors, inaccessible to both the public and the media.
Despite these restrictions, the Black Stars plan to organize a session with the media. The friendly match, once a new opponent is confirmed, will be open to the public. Following the match, there will be a post-match press conference where the media can engage with the team.
The GFA urges the public to comprehend and support these measures to ensure the Technical Team's objectives are met during the camping period in Kumasi.
Ghana, placed in Group B alongside football powerhouses Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique, faces a challenging journey in the AFCON 2023. The Black Stars will commence their campaign against Cape Verde on Sunday, January 14, followed by encounters with record holders Egypt on January 18 and Mozambique on January 22 in the other Group B game.