Ghana's planned friendly match against Iran next month has been cancelled by the Asians due to lack of funds, GHANAsoccernet.com can reveal.
The decision has left the Ghana FA working to find a new opponent for next month's FIFA international free date.
The Black Stars were scheduled to take on Iran in the international friendly in Portugal in mid August but the Asians pulled the plug on the match in the last minute claiming their FA is unable to fund the match.
Iran planned to hold a training camp in Lisbon, Portugal and take on the Black Stars during the camp but surprised the Ghanaian by pulling out.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz says the decision to pull out of the friendly against Ghana will affect the team's preparations for future assignments.
“We are going to advance to the next round in the 2014 World Cup but it will not happen without adequate resources,†Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said.
Other's have suggested that Iran pulled out becasue they fear being massacred by the Black Stars but Queiroz rebuffed the speculation that he is not interested in playing with the big teams.
“I don’t know where the speculations come from. We have to learn from friendlies and for example we cannot play the teams such as Brazil,†the Portuguese added.
Ghana must now find an opponent for next month's FIFA friendly date to prepare for the World Cup qualifier against Zambia.
Ghana's leading football news website GHANAsoccernet.com can reveal that plans are underway to find a replacement Iran.