The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially confirmed a change in the Black Stars’ preparation camp location for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023. Initially slated for South Africa, the national team will now conduct their training on home turf, as announced by the GFA on Thursday.
“The Ghana Football Federation wishes to announce that following a review meeting between the management and technical team, it has amended its plans to camp the Black Stars in Ghana ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023,” communicated the GFA.
The training course, originally set to commence on December 31, has been rescheduled to kick off on January 2, 2024.
The Black Stars will undergo their final preparations in Kumasi, according to the Ghana Football Association.
The decision not only affects the planned trip to South Africa but also leads to the cancellation of the friendly match against Botswana, previously scheduled for January 8, 2024, in Johannesburg.
The GFA, however, has not yet disclosed the new opponent for the test match before the team departs for Abidjan, emphasizing its commitment to finding a suitable replacement for the canceled encounter.
In a bid for focused preparation, the Black Stars’ camp will be closed to both the public and the media.
The Ghana Football Association states, “The training sessions will take place behind closed doors and will not be accessible to the public and the media.”
Nevertheless, the friendly match will be open to the public, concluding with a post-match press conference. The strategic shift indicates a meticulous approach by the GFA to optimize the team’s readiness for the AFCON tournament.
