9th May, 2011
Many Nigerians who came to watch the Ghana national team training at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, on Friday have expressed satisfaction that the team have what it takes to go far in the WAFU Nations Cup.
Some of the spectators who spoke with P.M. Sports said Ghana’s training was more interesting and exciting than those of other teams who have trained earlier. Some Nigerians and other journalists who watched the Ghanaians training admitted that Ghana are in Nigeria to win the title.
According to some of them, Nigeria need to improve on their matches if they want to retain the cup won last year.
Speaking, Ghana’s Team Manager, Sabahn Quaye, said his team had good preparations before coming for the WAFU Cup. He said they are not in Nigeria for jamboree but to win the trophy.
“Of course, we are here to play good football and get results, which is very important to us. Don’t forget that we just crashed out in the Olympic Games qualifiers, so we want to use the WAFU Cup to make Ghanaians back home happy,†he said.
Meanwhile, the chief coach of Ghana national team, David Duncan, has blamed the organisers for the withdrawal of the three countries in the on going WAFU Nations Cup
Senegal, Mali and Gambia pulled out in the last minutes in the eight nations tournament
Duncan, who failed to qualify his team for the next stage of the Olympic Games qualifiers said it is high time the regional body allowed more countries to take part in the tournament instead of eight countries
He said he would not blame the three countries that pulled out in the last minutes as they might not have got invitations earlier to prepare for the competition.
“We received our own invitation letter late. This was responsible for us coming late for the tourney.
This regional competition should be properly organised to get international recognition. I will not tell the organisers what to do, but all we are saying is that they should organise a good competition,†he said.