Sports News of Monday, 5 January 2015

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

"It wasn't easy axing players, but we did a good job" - Grant

Avram Grant claims he had to cut his nose to spite his face in naming trimming his initial provisional 31-man squad to 26 for pre-AFCON camping.

The Israeli officially supervised two sessions in Accra and decided goalkeeper Stephen Adams, Enoch Adu Kofi, who were able, did not fit the bill.

Grant also omitted Middlesbrough’s Albert Adomah and on-loan Sampdoria youngster Alfred Duncan, who were not around to make the trip.

The 59-year-old also excluded striker Majeed Waris, who has picked up an injury and would need ten days to recover, but says the Trabzonspor player is under observation.

“It is not easy, but it is my job all the time. At the end of the day, the tournament allows us to take only 23 players, so we need to cut it to 23,” the former Chelsea and West Ham United manager said.

“It was not easy also because we had too much injuries some players didn’t in the last two months, so we needed, and we’re still checking them. I think in the short time we did a good job.”

Grant will have to name his 23-man squad by Wednesday- CAF’s deadline for the submission of finals squad for the tournament.