Henry Asante Twum (HAT), the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Communications Director, has disputed reports of verified instances of COVID-19 during the Black Stars’ training camp in Japan.
Multiple reports surfaced in the early hours of Thursday, June 9, 2022, claiming that five players had contracted the illness and that only 18 of the 33-man squad would be eligible for the competition.
Despite the fact that there are 18 athletes in camp, HAT stated that no one has tested positive for COVID.
“We currently have 18 players in the Black Stars camp in Japan. There is no COVID-19 case in our camp as reported in the Media,” he told Kumasi-based FM station.
He also explained that Gideon Mensah’s absence from camp was not due to COVID, but rather to an injury.
“Gideon Mensah is not with the Black Stars team because of injury. He complained about injury after our game against CAR and the medical team decided to give him some time to rest knowing that he has also had a long season in France,” he added.
He goes on to state that one of the absentees, Daniel Kofi Kyere, has been excused while he figures out his St Pauli future.
“Daniel Kofi Kyereh was getting calls from his agent even when the Black Stars team was in Cape Coast. The agent contacted the technical team and they decided to let him go to sort his transfer move out.”
Daniell Afriyie Barnieh and Christopher Antwi Adjei, who joined the team late, took part in training today, according to Henry Asante Twum.
“Daniel Afriyie and Christopher Antwi Adjei joined the Black Stars camp on Wednesday and they both trained this morning with the team.”
Meanwhile, Dennis Odoi, Kamaladeen Sulemana, Elisha Owusu, Gideon Mensah, and Osman Bukari have all been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus, according to reliable sources.
On Friday, June 10, the Black Stars faced Japan at Misaki Park Stadium in Tokyo.
The game kicked-off at 9:00 GMT time.
The winner advances to the finals, while the loser competes in the bronze medal match on June 14, the same day as the final.
