Nobody should take LeRoy seriously - Jabir

Accra, May 26, GNA - Black Meteors coach, Malik Jabir has poured scorn on Claude LeRoy's assertion that Ghana presented an over-aged team to defeat his side 1-0 in their 2015 CAF U-23 Championship qualifiers in Accra on Saturday.

Le Roy accused Ghana of using over-aged players after Congo lost the first leg fixture by a lone goal at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Jabir told GNA Sports that Franchman's rant must be overlooked. 'Nobody should take LeRoy seriously. He has no basis whatsoever to make those accusations. It seems he just wanted to be loud.

'It is most unfortunate that such baseless assertions came from him because he previously worked here and thought once he invited a player like Ebo Andoh to his local Black Stars' team then, he will be over the age of 23 now'.

Jabir challenged the coach who led the Black Stars to bronze when Ghana hosted the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, to prove his claim. 'If indeed he (LeRoy) was convinced that we presented over-aged players, then why did he not just file a protest? Why? Clearly, he had no basis.'

LeRoy's side failed to return home with a point following Ebo Andoh's first half goal that separated both side.

The Congolese coach claimed after the match that 'It is a big advantage for Meteors, not for Congo. But in this Congo team, you have six players with real age but not like Ghana today.

'If you want me to go further, I will go further. Some of the players fielded today played with me in the CHAN qualifiers in 2008. I left this country in May 2008. That was seven years ago, at this time they were already 20.

'I am sure of what I am telling you. It is not an allegation. You have some of the players who played with me in the CHAN qualifiers in Niamey against Niger. It is the reality, you should ask the players'.

The Black Meteors will be on the road to Congo for the return fixture in the weekend of June5-7.

GNA