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| Essien excused from Ghana duty |
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| Posted on: 2008-May-06 |
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The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has exempted midfielder Michael Essien from the Black Stars’ friendly against Australia later this month.
Both sides should be able to call on several of their overseas-based stars following the completion of most of the top European leagues for the game on May 23.
But as the match falls only two days after the Champions League final, Essien has been excluded from the game in Sydney because he will play for Chelsea when they face Manchester United in the final in Moscow.
Essien must also participate in the club's post match procession in London if they win the title and a 24-hour flight to Sydney means he will be too tired for the game.
He must also play in the crucial opening World Cup qualifier against Libya, one week after the Australia friendly and playing in the Champions League final and Australia game, could affect his fitness for the game against the North Africans.
The GFA says it would be unreasonable to expect the Chelsea ace to feature in a friendly game that might affect his fitness for a crucial World Cup qualifier.
“We have long anticipated this issue so we made contingency plans to give Essien the opportunity to fully concentrate on the Champions League final,” GFA vice president Fred Pappoe said.
“It would be unreasonable for us to expect him to play in Moscow and travel on a very long journey to Sydney.
“We want Essien to be fully fit when the World Cup qualifiers start so we have left him out and this can also offer the opportunity to another player to show the coach what he can do.”
Despite the absence of Essien, Football Federation of Australia chief executive Ben Buckley is confident Ghana would field their strongest possible side.
“There’s a condition in our agreement that says they have to field a full-strength team, so we’re confident that they will have their best available squad,” said Buckley.
Ghana, ranked 15th in the world, 23 places above Australia, has only faced the Socceroos on one previous occasion.
The teams drew 1-1 in London in November 2006.
Ghana finished third in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, which they hosted.
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