Captaincy crisis for Ghana

The decision to drop Black Stars' out-spoken captain Charles Akonnor from Ghana's Nations Cup plans is causing a huge problem for the management.

Their hopes that deputy-captain Sammy Kuffour would take over the reigns have been dashed.

He is refusing to take up the job of skipper from his former team-mate.

Kuffour says the dropping of Akonnor has thrown their Nations Cup preparations into chaos and he is not interested in taking his job.

Black Stars coach Fred Osam-Duodu now has to come up with a new name to lead the side in Mali.

This is likely to prove difficult as Ghana's experienced players are all either refusing to play or have been dropped.

Samuel Johnson, Kwame Ayew and Yaw Preko are now aging, and Alex Nyarko has said he no longer wants to appear for the national side.

The dropping of Akonnor has caused a deep row in Ghanaian football.

The former captain said Osam-Duodo had been pressured to take the decision, pointing a finger at ex-Black stars skipper Abedi Pele.

Abedi now holds a senior position in Ghana's FA, and Akonnor criticised him for not vetoing the decision.

"Abedi knows very well that I am still the captain of a Bundesliga side and playing regularly. I expected him to say something to the technical body".

However, Osam-Duodu says he takes full responsibility for Akonnor being dropped.

With Kuffour rejecting the job of leading the side, it is difficult to see who could now wear the captain's armband.

Udinese midfielder Mohamed Gargo and the reigning Ghanaian footballer of the year, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour are possibilities.

Ghana's form over the past year has been less than convincing with internal turmoil and wrangling hampering the team.

This latest row suggests that nothing has been resolved.