Ghana eye Nyarko U-turn

Ghana have lined up five friendlies while they move to convince Alex Nyarko to reverse his decision to retire from international football. The four-time African Nations Cup champions will travel to Mexico on December 19 and will then spend Christmas in Mali for a friendly with the African Nations Cup hosts. They will travel to Spain four days later, take on Egypt on January 4 and will be back home for a farewell game with neighbours Togo on January 7 before departing for Mali.

Coach Fred Osam Duodu says he believes those games will prepare The Stars for a fifth Nations Cup triumph, provided he has a full complement of players.

Former Blues midfielder Nyarko, who is currently on loan at Monaco, has asked to be excused but Osam Duodu said: "Alex has not officially communicated his decision to me and he is still very much in my plans.

"I'd like to meet him personally and find out why he does not want to play for his country and hopefully convince him. If he has a peculiar problem, I'd like to hear about it."