Black Satellites Coach Karim Zito on playing in dry weather in Mauritania, Tanzania and absence of David Acquah and Adu Kwabena

Black Satellites Head Coach Abdul Karim Zito says his players are adapting to the dry weather condition in Mauritania ahead of Ghana’s Group C opener against Tanzania.

Ghana will on Tuesday afternoon, take on Tanzania in a Group C opener in Nouadhibou in the ongoing Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Satellites, three-time African Champions are making their first appearance in the competition since 2015.

In this interview, Karim Zito tells our tournament correspondent, William Bossman that the players are gradually adapting to life in Mauritania. Read on for the full transcript:

On preparation:

The preparation has been normal, we started camping on January, 16. What we did was to allow those who played the Division One and Premier League to go and play for their clubs and they have to come back to continue with preparation. We did that throughout the period until we flew here on Saturday.

On number of players who started the preparation:

I started with 30 players, I sent the provisional to the GFA and it was forwarded to CAF. Out of the 30, I had three foreign players. Unfortunately, one didn’t make it.

On David Acquah and Prince Adu Kwabena

David Acquah from Israel couldn’t make it. Prince Adu Kwabena of Bechem United also picked up an injury and had to be dropped from the tournament so we came here with 27 players and I think we are fine.

On playing in dry weather in Mauritania

As you can see, we are going on with the adaptation with the weather and the field. In Ghana we don’t have this kind of weather. The weather here is very dry but the boys are doing well to get used to it.

On Tanzania:

These days there are no minnows. I have been watching the games since the tournament began and technically you can see that all the teams are good. They are a very good side but I think we are well prepared to face them on Tuesday.

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