Essien arrives in Angola for Nations Cup

Ghana have received a major boost at the African Cup of Nations after midfield dynamo Michael Essien arrived in Angola on Wednesday for the tournament.

 
Bad weather in Britain prevented the Chelsea ace from joining his team mates in Cabinda on Monday.

But he was alble to catch a direct flight from London on Tuesday night - arriving in the host nation on Wednesday morning.

This means he will be available to feature for the Black Stars in Friday's game against Ivory Coast in Group B.

Ghana's first scheduled game was cancelled in the wake of the attacks on the Togo team.

The Chelsea midfielder has returned to fitness after suffering a hamstring injury that would have kept him out of that game.

Ghana, along with Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, will only play two games in the group stage.

The freezing conditions in Britain led to much of the weekend's football being postponed.