Kofi Ntow Gyan has branded Ghana’s preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as inadequate. The former Black Stars midfielder feels Otto Addo’s men are not set up to win.
Ghana will travel to the Middle East for fixtures against Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in Group H. The West Africans begin their tournament on November 24 before matches on the 28th and December 2. They could face a nation playing in Group H in the Round of 16.
- WORLD CUP: ASAMOAH GYAN AND URUGUAY ANGUISH WAS GHANA’S STORY IN 2010
- WORLD CUP: ALL EIGHT STADIUMS QATAR WILL USE TO HOST THE 2022 EDITION
The Black Stars have not contested a knockout stage game at a World Cup since the 2010 edition in South Africa. They achieved their best finish at a FIFA tournament yet at the first to be held in Africa. Ghana made the quarter-finals at their second World Cup appearance.
Ghana first featured at a World Cup finals in 2006 and would make three tournaments in a row. But the West Africans failed to gain a place at the last edition in Russia four years ago. Yet they responded for the Qatar edition after winning a CAF third-round tie with Nigeria.
Thomas Partey sent Ghana to the Qatar World Cup at Nigeria’s expense
Addo’s side initially held Nigeria to a goalless draw in Kumasi this March before taking a 1-1 draw in Abuja. Thomas Partey’s 10th-minute strike meant Ghana advanced to the World Cup on away goals. Nigeria were unable to build on William Troost-Ekong’s penalty reply.
But Gyan feels Ghana are not prepared for their meetings with Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay at the Qatar World Cup. The Black Stars lost 3-0 to Brazil in a friendly in Le Havre, France, and beat Nicaragua 1-0 in Lorca, Spain, during two friendlies played in September.
Ghana will also face Switzerland on November 17, a week before their World Cup starts in Doha against Portugal. But Gyan does not feel Addo and the Ghana Football Association have invested enough to ensure they arrive at Stadium 974 playing at a competitive level.
“The Brazil and Argentina we always talk about, they prepared early,” Gyan stated on Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV, via quotes by Football Ghana. “It is not like that here. We wait ‘til two weeks to the tournament and start calling in players. It does not help us.
“All this can be attributed to money, it is expensive to prepare. That is why some of these things worry us. We have money here and if so, why don’t we take that money and use it?”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
