Ex-Chelsea manager quits Ghana job

Former Chelsea manager, Avram Grant and the Ghana Football Association have parted ways after the Israeli announced his resignation on Tuesday morning.

At about midday local time, he was sighted leaving the Ghana FA Secretariat for the last time, with some officials seeing him off into his Land Cruiser.

“After an extremely amicable meeting with the president of Ghana FA, and following more than two successful years in charge of the national team, I’ve informed Mr Nyantakyi that the time is right for me to move on to a new challenge and I thank him for the opportunity,” his statement said.

The Black Stars failed to win the just-ended AFCON despite a sixth successive semifinals, having lost 1-0 in the bronze medal match against Burkina Faso on Saturday.

Ghana’s last victory in the AFCON was 35 years ago.

According to Grant, “I’ve hugely enjoyed my time in Ghana taking over after the disastrous 2014 World Cup campaign and rebuilding the squad to reach the final in the African Cup of Nations for only the second time in 23 years, and also the semifinal of this year’s competition.

“I am proud of the fact that I’m leaving an extremely professional, strong squad of players of a good age, who I’m sure will go on to achieve great success in the future. The passion and loyalty of the supporters is something I’ll always remember,” the Israeli coach added.

Avram has won 48 percent of his 29 matches with Ghana, and came close to silverware when he took the team he had inherited just a month previously to the 2015 AFCON final, only to be beaten by Ivory Coast on penalties.