Graphic Sports

'GFA Hails Decision' and 'Black Stars play France, Argentina' are the two stories on the front-page of the Graphic Sports. In the first story, Alhaji Nurudeen Jawula, GFA Chairman, says it is much joy to him that Ghana is co-hosting the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations (CAF) claiming it will boost tourism as well as the image of the country. Alhaji Jawula is reportedly saying that the big soccer bonanza will also offer the nation an opportunity to recoup some of the billions of cedis sunk into the hosting of the Ghana '99 Under 20 tournament. The paper reports that the GFA Chairman described the co- hosting idea as a favour by CAF for reducing the number of venues needed to two instead of four. By the split decision, Ghana will host eight countries at two venues while Nigeria does the same for the 16-nation tornament. Ghana's portion of the historic co-hosting includes that of preceding CAF Congress and an opening ceremony to be beamed world-wide while Nigeria the other country takes care of other ceremonies. The paper reports also that Ghana's automatic qualification to the CAF Nations cup by co-hosting it, has resulted in a line- up of trial matches for the Black Stars to help to shape them up, in matches that include France and Argentina. The Black Stars will also do battle with the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Jamaica's Reggae Boyz. The trials are slated between May and August this year. GRi