Grant in dilemma over Sulley, Kevin
Recent overtures made by suspended Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari for a possible reutrn to the Black Stars and media campaign for their recall may pose a big dilemma for Black Stars coach, Avram Grant, as he looks to assemble his best players to face the Pharaohs of Egypt next week in a match whose outcome could either revive or wreck Ghana’s World Cup campaign.
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The Mirror Sports understands that coach Grant is an admirer of Boateng’s newfound form for Las Palmas FC in the Spanish La Liga and is contemplating inviting him for the November 13 clash in Alexandria, but it appears his hands have been tied by divided public opinion about the possible recall of the midfield duo, and an istruction by government for their exclusion from the Stars to maintain team discipline.
The government’s White Paper on the Justice Senyo Dzamefe Commission report on Ghana’s 2014 World Cup campaign may just have strengthened the case of the GFA Executive Committee which banned the former AC Milan duo indefinitely after they were sacked from the camp during the Brazil 2014 world Cup for acts of indiscipline.
Hardly does a player divide the nation’s football community like Boateng, who said in a recent interview with CCTV Africa that he would fancy a third World Cup appearance for Ghana.
“It’s every player’s dream to play in the World Cup. If there would be a chance to play in a third World Cup in my career – not many players get the chance to play in three World Cups – I won’t say no,” Boateng admitted in the interview.
Ironically, Boateng gatecrashed Ghana’s world Cup party after featuring in (and scoring) only the Stars’ final qualifier against Egypt in Alexandria three years ago.
But the poisoned atmosphere suggests he may not be lucky again as the team prepared to face the Egyptians again on November 13.
Grant, who is keen on adding experience to the team may have to look beyond the controversial players and count on the return from injury by midfielders Kwadwo Asamoah and Andre Ayew, both of whom missed the team’s first qualifier against Uganda in Tamale.
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The israeli trainer is expected to release his list of players for the next game ahead of the team’s planned camping in Dubai for preparation before moving to Alexandria to face the Pharaohs.
Ghana beat Egypt 7-3 on aggregate during their qualifiers to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, thrashing the Pharaohs 6-1 in the first leg clash in Kumasi but lost the return encounter 1-2 in alexandria with Boateng scoring Ghana’s only goal.