Ghana FA boss Kwasi Nyantakyi

By Ameenu Shardow

Ghana FA boss Kwasi Nyantakyi wants the Nations Cup shifted to June in order to have the best players available for the tournament.

European clubs have been agitating for Africa’s flagship competition to be moved from January during which time most of their leagues are grinding to their peak.

These clubs who pay most of the African players mega cash are faced with the prospects of losing these players for up to five weeks to the Nations Cup.

Some unlucky one’s stay even further after picking up injuries while others lose their first team positions on their return.

This has seen these European clubs and their powerful continental body; UEFA, angle for the shift of the time the competition is staged to the summer but CAF is unwilling.

GFA boss Nyantakyi who is a member of CAF’s Executive Committee is however in favour of the shift to ensure the best players from the continent feel free and confident in coming to represent their nations compete at the AFCON.

“During this time (Nations Cup), they  (European clubs) implore a lot of tricks. They sometimes even force players to feign injuries,” Nyantakyi said on Good Evening Ghana.

“They also sometimes because they know the law is not on their side plead with you to allow the players to stay behind to play some important matches.

“But at least the current leadership of CAF is not favorable to the decision to shift the Nations Cup to June.

“Meanwhile this will solve all these problems. I am personally looking forward to the day where this decision will be made.

“Because as a federation president a lot of pressure is brought to bear during this time.”

Michael Essien for instance decided not to join the Black Stars for the 2013 Nations Cup as he aims to knock down a regular spot in the Real Madrid team.

His decision to stay away has somewhat weakened the Ghana team as his experience would have proved invaluably helpful to the Black Stars course.

Many African countries competing at the Nations Cup are also faced with similar challenges.

But CAF remains resolute in its conviction that staging the tournament in January serves Africa’s best interest considering June is usually a rainy season in most African countries.