Rigorous physical exercise in Spain was responsible for illness in Black Stars camp during 2015 AFCON, GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi reveals

By Ameenu Shardow

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Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi believes the rigorous physical exercises the Black Stars players were put through during their pre-2015 AFCON training camp in Spain was responsible for the illness that hit some of the key players.

Captain Asamoah Gyan was the worst hit by the illness that struck the Ghana camp in the opening stages of the tournament staged in Equatorial Guinea.

The Al Ain ace missed the opening defeat to Senegal but did the most important thing by handing the side a much needed win in the second game against Algeria despite not being fully fit.

Other key players of the side were also secretly treated over similar illness.

GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi believes the rigorous physical plan implemented by Jamie Lawrence ahead of the Nations Cup broke some of the players down.

“The players were put through rigorous physical exercises by the fitness coach during our pre-tournament camping in Spain,” he revealed in an interview with Happy FM.

“The players were put through the paces and that is why some of the players broke down with illness.

“You would recall that Asamoah Gyan was down with Malaria.

“Even the fitness coach had to spend some time in the hospital.”

The Black Stars got better as the tournament wore on with most of the ailing players regaining their fitness.

Ghana eventually won silver after losing a penalty shootout in the finals against Cote d”Ivoire.