The senior national team the Black Stars is set to begin camping on the December 27 for the 2010 Nations cup in Angola.

This was disclosed by the GFA spokesperson Randy Abbey on Tuesday shortly after the Black Stars first training session ahead of the final World and Nations Cup qualifier against Mali on Sunday.

Even though the Stars have already booked places for both competitions Mr. Abbey reckoned the team will give off their best on Sunday.

“We are preparing towards Angola so we find it an extremely important game because our preparation has started now. This game and the Angolan game perhaps will be our last two games before we start our camping,” Mr Abbey told Myjoyonline.com.

The Stars are expected to fly to Angola after the Mali game for an international friendly against Angola which will be used to open the newly-built Estádio Cidade Universitária, a key venue for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

Apart from Chelsea star Michael Essien, Samuel Inkoom, Asamoah Gyan and Richard Kingston who were conspicuously missing, Coach Milovan Rajevac had his charges available for training.

Present at training included Goal keeper Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England), Jonathan Quartey (Nice, France), Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland) Lee Addy (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana) Daniel Addo (King Faisal, Ghana) and Aziz Ansah.

Midfielders: Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy), Andre Ayew (Arles-Avagnon, France), Agyemang Badu (Asante Kotoko, Ghana) Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy)

Attackers: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Dominic Adiyiah (Fredrikstad FK, Norway) Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy)


On the preparations for Sunday's clash Mr Abbey said: “I think preparation is good we have started very well. We have majority of the players in. The rest are coming tonight. I am sure by tomorrow morning we would have everybody in camp,” he said

Meanwhile, the Stars are likely not to play any competitive game after the game against Angola before the nations cup officially kicks off in January.

This because there is no FIFA free date and will be difficult if not impossible for foreign clubs to release Black Stars players for any game.



Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana