LOC assures Ghana of improved facilities after inspection

Ghana Football Association (GFA) officials have inspected facilities to be used by the Black Stars during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The team, led by GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi and assistant Ghana coach Maxwell Konadu arrived in Port Elizabeth on Thursday to view closely facilities where the Black Stars will be based during the tournament.

Ghana were drawn in Group B with DR Congo, Niger and Mali and will be based in Port Elizabeth.

The officials inspected the Garden Court Hotel and the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium which will be used by the Black Stars during the tournament.

However, they raised concerns over the state of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University pitch.

But officials of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have given Ghana assurances that the training facility will be improved before the tournament starts.

"We had to come here to see the facilities for ourselves to ensure that they were up standard before the tournament starts," Nyantakyi told Ghanafa.org.

"We are very happy with the team hotel and the stadium where our group matches will be played.

"We have some concerns about the quality of the training pitch and officials of the LOC have assured us that it will be put in a good shape before we arrive for the tournament."

Ghana's first game in Group B will be against DR Congo in the South African city of Port Elizabeth on January 20, followed by fixtures against on Mali four days later and Niger in Port Elizabeth on January 28.