Ghana Fa Boss Defends Decision To Play World Cup Decider Against Zambia On Friday

Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi has defended the decision to play the country's  2014 World Cup group decider against Zambia on a Friday.

The Ghanaians are billed to play the Chipolopolo needing to pick up at least a draw to advance to the final play-offs.

But the decision by the FA to move the game forward to September 6, which falls on a Friday has been criticized in some quarters.

Ghana FA Executive Committee member Randy Abbey is among some high profile football personalities who have publicly criticize the move by the Ghanaian FA insisting it will deny the Black Stars two days of preparatory time ahead of the crunch game.

But the Ghanaian FA leader has defended the move saying it will not affect the preparations of the team.

“I disagree with those who think playing the game on a Friday is a mistake,” Nyantakyi told Peace FM's Yaw Osagyefo Anaman

“In the first place, this is not the first time that we're playing a match on a Friday. The World Cup qualifier against Lesotho was played on a Friday.

“We also played Congo during the 2010 qualifier on a Friday and the same applied to the qualifier we played against Mali in 2011.

“About 85% of our players play abroad and all of them are involved in pre-season. They play matches within an interval of three days a week and so there is no cause for alarm.

“These are professionals who understand their job and know what it entails. And so our people should be in Kumasi in their numbers to support the team.”

The Black Stars will play Japan in a friendly on August 10, a move which forced the FA to move the game to a Friday instead of the traditional Sunday.