CAF denies Ghana chance to train on dodgy pitch ahead of Burkina game
Posted On Tuesday, 5th February 2013
Sand rises from the pitch as Burkina Faso's Saidou Mady Panandetiguiri, left, fights for the ball with Ethiopia's Seyoum Tesfaye during their African Cup of Nations group C match at the Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit
CAF has put Ghana at a disadvantage by refusing the Black Stars the opportunity to train on the controversial Mbombela Stadium pitch ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Burkina Faso.
The local organising committee will not allow Ghana to train on the field one day ahead the semi-final match of the Africa Cup of Nations, Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah has revealed.
It is the norm of the Africa Cup of Nations that each country is allowed one training run on the match pitch on the eve of their first appearance at a venue.
But the local organising committee has not allowed any teams to train on the much-criticized field, putting the Black Stars at huge disadvantage as the tournament reaches its climax.
Ghana’s opponents in the semi finals of the Africa Cup of Nations have a huge advantage over the four-time champions in their experience of using the bumpy and sandy pitch in Nelspruit.
Burkina Faso have played all five of their matches in the lead up to the surprise semi-final appearance at the venue, which sit on the outskirts of Nelspruit amid rolling hills.
With the Stallions having the opportunity to play there five times already it was thought giving Ghana the chance to train there would bring some fairness to the semi-final match.
Much of the grass at the Mbombela Stadium’s pitch had been killed by a fungus in the build-up to the tournament after recent heavy rains.
The coating of sand to rectify the situation has left the pitch hard and patchy in a major embarrassment to organisers.
Burkina Faso coach Paul Put has exacerbated Ghana’s worries over the pitch by claiming that his side’s familiarity with the conditions gives them a huge advantage.
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If a pitch isn’t suitable to host training session,then how suitable is it to host a 90 minute match????
that hayatou in action. but he doesnt know the power of GOD yet. he will see tomorrow.
The Stallions have played four times on the pitch not five.We will beat them whether we play the match in a farm or a cemented floor.The cup is coming to GH.
BS can cope withe pitch because most of the players have played gutter to gutter and “sakora” pitches brfore
All IS NOT LOST FOR GHANA.AFTERALL,WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOOTBALL ON GRAVELS AND SOMETIMES SANDY OR MUDDY RESPECTIVELY BAREFOOTED SO I DON’T THINK THIS PITCH CAN GIVE BURKINAFASO ANY ADVANTAGE BUT GHANA RATHER WILL HAVE UPPER HAND ON THE DAY.GO, GO, GO FOR GOLD GHANA.
GHANA YOU TOO DEY MAKE MOUTH SO MUCH YOU WILL FALL
WE ARE ONLY TELLING YOU GUYS THE TRUTH AND NOT MOUTH MOUTH AS YOU PUT IT.BURKINAS ARE OUR BROTHERS BUT WE SHALL SURELY WIN ON THE DAY.HOW CLOSE ARE YOU WITH GOD?
Make em play am for the sea top but we still dont care.Ghana all the way
This stadium and its horrible pitch shouldn’t have been included in the venues for the tournament in the first place! If this stupid pitch is not suitable for use Ghana should be handed an alternative, fucking idiots!
This is a shame to African Football.
help me brodas,jst can’t get my head round this why are they having good pitches but still wanna use this rubbish one?when is africa gonna learn some sense would they have aloud south africa play on this pitch?
sorry “allowed”
WINNER WINNER WINNER
GHANA MEANS ,GOD HAS APPOINTED NKRUMAH ALREADY.
AND NKRUMAH MEANS,NOBLE KING RULING UNLIMITEDLY MAKING AFRICANS HAPPY.
MEANING GOD HAS CHOSEN GHANA TO WIN THIS YEARS CUP THOUGH THE BATTLE WILL NOT BE JUST EASY.
God is with black stars in good spirit Amen!
Its obvious CAF WANTS Ghana knocked out of the tournament esp Hayatou.but GOD wil neva forsake us in this AFCON.Help us GOD
The reality here is that whether the pitch is bad or not this is the perfect opportunity for an average Black Star team to walk away with a cup. Now that Ivory Coast is out, Ghana is looking at three beatable teams. If each Black Star player plays to potential this should be cup. To make a long story short, they could play compact and “one goal project” to the title against the remaining teams. If Ivory Coast was remaining or one of the North African sides been remaining this would have been a much tougher task. It is still tough but doable. The match ups have lined up properly for the Black Stars. They need to take one game at a time and take advantage of this opportunity.
There are only 2 matches to be played for semi-finals. Are they saying that they cannot use any of the better stadiums in South Africa?. It is only fair to allow Black Stars to train on that pitch. Why did they allow Burkina to stay there for Black Stars to travel all the way. No! no! no!. This is Francophone fraudulence. Issah, be careful! You have been in that position for too long a time. why? Allow someone else to be there.
Brother Sepp Blatter, please come and help African Football. This Francophone dishonesty is too blatant!
We thank Almighty God for how far He has brought us. We hope and have Faith in Him that come Wednesday there will be all joy for Ghanaians.
Sometimes I wonder what sought of leaders we have in Africa.
I think that’s the only stadium most of teams complained about.
If is not good why don’t u move the match to a better stadium.
Jux bcos u planned u will be playing a semi-final match does not necessarily mean it has to be played there even if the pitch is in poor condition
Smh
this will bring the best out of me and the rest of the team.
If you are good, you are good, no matter what comes before we, we are not scared
The two finalists will be Naija and Burkina Faso and history will repeat itself for the BRONZE MEDLISTS.
lol…..
and am extremely surprised abt Hayatu, i fink its abt time he has to resign from dat position bcause hes becoming rusty in his decision of late. how can yu still stick out ur neck dat we should still go ahead nd honor dis crucial match at dis rough pitch, nd to d extent of denying our black stars frm training at d suppose rough pitch? i fink its abt tym our african continent take a second look at dis Caf President Man
I see Mali and Burkinafaso final. Up Burkinabes.Ghana must go.kwkakwkakwwa!
It will be the first time for us to reach the AFCON and we hope to go all the way and win it.We just need one precious goal to send gayna out.
To protect their integrity CAF should rescind the red card given to the Burkina Faso player and ensure the referee is disciplined appropriately. But ofcourse Burkina Faso should on their part make an appeal quickly.