Soccer News of Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Source: Goal.com
Ghana coach Avram Grant has revealed that he is planning to drop several of the players who guided the Black Stars to a second-place finish at the recent Africa Cup of Nations.
The Israeli has admitted that he is keen to incorporate several new players into the side, which means making cuts to the existing squad.
“The door will be open always for new players,” began Grant, speaking to the press on Tuesday, as reported by Citi FM, “but I think the players that you saw at the Africa Cup of Nations are the best for the upcoming years of the Black Stars.
“It will not be all of them, but 60-70 percent will be in there if they continue to show quality, development, good mentality and good spirit they will continue because this is their time,” the former Chelsea boss added.
“The door will be open for other players, I think you will see,” Grant concluded.
Ahead of the recent tournament in Equatorial Guinea, the coach demonstrated a proclivity for turning to young and inexperienced players for the national side.
Daniel Amartey, Kwesi Appiah, Frank Acheampong, Mahatma Otoo and Ernest Sowah all travelled with the squad to the Afcon despite playing no part in the qualifying campaign under Grant’s predecessors Kwesi Appiah and Maxwell Konadu.
Grant did not hesitate to give some of these previously untested players key roles at the African showpiece, with Amartey starting the first three matches and Appiah being picked ahead of Jordan Ayew for the final.
Grant’s latest comments may come as concerning news to players such as Edwin Gyimah, David Accam and Solomon Asante who played peripheral roles in Equatorial Guinea.
Despite a muted response to his appointment, Grant won over the Ghanaian media and fans with his warm and amiable manner, as well as the team’s increasing competence and confidence.
Ghana will begin their post-Afcon schedule with friendly fixtures on March 29 and 31, although, at the moment, the Black Stars’ opponents have not been confirmed.