Grant pleased with Ghana friendly matches

Ghana coach Avram Grant says he is happy with the performance of his players in the two international friendly matches against Senegal and Mali despite losing one and drawing the other.

The former Chelsea manager believes his team proved character in the absence of a number of key players.

“I’m satisfied with the two friendly games we played. For me, it has been a good exercise and I believe my players enjoyed it as well,” Grant said.

“We played the second half of the Senegal game and that of the Mali without Jonathan Mensah and John Boye and I am happy with what I’ve seen.”

Grant named a 22-man squad for the two assignments with debut call-ups for Switzerland-based striker Ebenezer Assifuah and midfielder Seidu Salifu, who is based in Tunisia. Although the duo were the only unused players in the friendlies.

“We missed key players but those who came in responded very well, which is very important. Sometimes this can happen even in official matches and it is good we tested our strength in such situations,” he said.

Injured Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah travelled to watch the Ghana-Mali clash on Tuesday while Asamoah Gyan is yet to emerge from the treatment room since undergoing a knee surgery last November.

Ghana lost 2-1 to Senegal in their first friendly in Le Havre on Saturday before settling for a 1-1 draw with the Malian Eagles. Both matches were played in France.