Sports Minister instructs Ghana FA to revise 2015 AFCON budget over contrasting camping base

The Ghana FA have been instructed to revise its budget for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations due to contrasting views over the Black Stars' pretournament camping base.

Reports are rife new Black Stars coach Avram Grant prefers to have the team camped in Spain ahead of the tournament.

The GFA have however earmarked locations in the UAE or South Africa to hold the team's pre-tournament camp.

A budget was sent to the Sports Ministry for consideration based on 'past experience' with respect to the camping site for the Black Stars.

But Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga has asked the GFA to revise its budget to accommodate the camping preference of the coach.

“The GFA brought a budget based on past experience,” Ayariga said.

“[The camping site] appears to be different from what the coach wants so I asked the GFA to go back and revise the budget.

“The amount [of revised budget] could be higher based on traveling changes due to the changes in the camping base.”

The Ghana FA's decision to camp in the UAE is believed to be influence by the high probability of securing friendly matches with African teams with most of them also looking to camp around the same location. A similar situation prevailed ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations where most African teams camped in the UAE ahead of the competition in South Africa.

The Black Stars secured friendlies against North African giants Egypt and Tunisia ahead of the tournament.

Favourable weather conditions and superior training facilities in the Gulf state also enforces the GFA's preference but Avram Grant appears to have a contrasting view.

Ghana must prepare adequately to face the strong challenge of Group C where they will be battling Senegal, South Africa and Algeria when the competition kicks off in Equatorial Guinea in January.