Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations meeting with Algeria is a must-not-lose affair for the Black Stars and their manager of less than a month.
Avram Grant has faced enough hostile press conferences in his career to know that he got away lightly. The Ghanaian media was clearly disappointed by the 2-1 defeat to Senegal on Monday but it was relatively restrained in the way it dealt with Grant, who sat in familiarly morose pose as a bat fluttered back and forth above his head. Perhaps the gentle approach was born of a recognition that this was Grant’s first competitive game in charge, or perhaps it was simply that the poor performance wasn’t unexpected.
Not since 2010 have Ghana played well at a Cup of Nations. They may have reached the semi-finals in 2012 and 2013 but both times they ground their way there, helped by kind draws and occasionally generous refereeing decisions.
Avram Grant has faced enough hostile press conferences in his career to know that he got away lightly. The Ghanaian media was clearly disappointed by the 2-1 defeat to Senegal on Monday but it was relatively restrained in the way it dealt with Grant, who sat in familiarly morose pose as a bat fluttered back and forth above his head. Perhaps the gentle approach was born of a recognition that this was Grant’s first competitive game in charge, or perhaps it was simply that the poor performance wasn’t unexpected.
Not since 2010 have Ghana played well at a Cup of Nations. They may have reached the semi-finals in 2012 and 2013 but both times they ground their way there, helped by kind draws and occasionally generous refereeing decisions.
This time the draw couldn’t have been harsher and despite taking the lead from yet another penalty – no doubts that it was the correct decision this time but the fourth spot-kick Ghana have been awarded in their past six Cup of Nations games – they were thoroughly outplayed by a stronger, better-organised Senegal side.
Meanwhile, Grant has hit out at the organisers of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after his side were forced to travel for an hour to undergo training ahead of Friday's clash against Algeria.
The Black Stars will take on the Fennec Foxes in a vital Group C encounter this weekend, where Grant's men will be looking for their first points in Equatorial Guinea after losing their opener against Senegal 2-1.
However, the African giants' preparations ahead of the game have been hampered by long travel times to and from training, while the former Chelsea boss was also highly critical of the state of the team bus provided for the trips.
"We had to drive one hour while Algeria could train near the hotel," Grant said.
"They change the venue of the training. Both of us need to train one hour from the hotel a day before the game. We asked to come closer, they didn't let us do it."
He added: "I am sorry to say you need to see our bus. It is a bus which behaves like a ship.
"We are the only team that receives this bus, the other team have a good bus. So when I say good words about the organisation I want you to know about the other things."
Meanwhile, Grant has hit out at the organisers of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after his side were forced to travel for an hour to undergo training ahead of Friday's clash against Algeria.
The Black Stars will take on the Fennec Foxes in a vital Group C encounter this weekend, where Grant's men will be looking for their first points in Equatorial Guinea after losing their opener against Senegal 2-1.
However, the African giants' preparations ahead of the game have been hampered by long travel times to and from training, while the former Chelsea boss was also highly critical of the state of the team bus provided for the trips.
"We had to drive one hour while Algeria could train near the hotel," Grant said.
"They change the venue of the training. Both of us need to train one hour from the hotel a day before the game. We asked to come closer, they didn't let us do it."
He added: "I am sorry to say you need to see our bus. It is a bus which behaves like a ship.
"We are the only team that receives this bus, the other team have a good bus. So when I say good words about the organisation I want you to know about the other things."
By: Farai Diza
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