Zakour blames GFA for poor World Cup showing

Former Accra Hearts of Oak Chairman, Harry Zakour, says Ghana’s abysmal performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup had everything to do with the Ghana Football Association refusing to listen to advice.

In Brazil, Ghana failed to replicate her sterling performance exhibited at the past two World Cups in Germany in 2006, as well as South Africa in 2010, when they failed to progress past the group stage for the first time, on a campaign rocked by disciplinary issues and bonus rows which undoubtedly affected the team’s output.

In his speech, the Ex-football administrator placed all blame at the doorstep of the FA, adding that it was foolhardy to have included the so-called senior players for Ghana’s World Cup campaign.

“I said it before the World Cup that these boys should not be taken to the tournament, but no one listened to me,” he said.

“Now look at the shame they brought to us; their indiscipline in camp has embarrassed our nation.

“For me, though I blame the GFA for all these problems in Brazil as I honestly think there was no need to have sent these three players,” Zakour added.

AC Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari was dismissed from camp for physically assaulting Black Stars Management Committee member Moses Armah while Schalke 04’s Kevin-Prince Boateng was similarly sent home on the day of Ghana’s last group fixture against Portugal for verbally abusing Coach Kwesi Appiah during a training exercise.

Former Chelsea enforcer Michael Essien is also likely to face sanctions from the FA for refusing to join the team’s warm-up ahead of the match against Portugal.