Pre-AFCON friendlies: Coach Sackey criticizes Black Stars

Former Black Princesses Coach, Robert Sackey, has criticized the Black Stars choice of pre-tournament friendly matches ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, stating that playing against European opposition in preparation for the continental championship is unrealistic.

The Black Stars have faced European sides Olhanense and SC Cambuur since opening camp in Spain, but have not played against any African opponent.

“The games they are playing so far is not realistic because you know we are going to play at the AFCON and we are going to meet African countries. The style of play and the way the game is; is a little bit different from the Europeans that they are playing,” Coach Sackey told Accra-based radio station Joy FM.

“I don’t think that it is bad to play the European teams if we have one or two African teams as well,” the former Black Stars scout added.

Ghana will wrap up its pre-tournament camping with the final test game against German Bundesliga side Freiburg on Wednesday in Algeciras before flying into Equatorial Guinea on January 15.

Ghana will open its AFCON 2015 campaign in Group C next Monday against Senegal in Mongomo before taking on Algeria on January 23rd and South Africa on January 27th.