3/10/2006
BBC

The Ghana Football Association, GFA has announced plans for preparing for the World Cup finals in Germany.

The Black Stars will hold a training camp in Portugal from mid-May as they get ready for their first ever World Cup appearance this summer.

Randy Abbey, a spokeman for the GFA told BBC Sport that the weather featured highly in their choice of Portugal for the training camp.

"The weather in Portugal appears more appropriate for us," Abbey said.

"It will be hotter than Germany in the summer and we reckon that it is better to have the first part of our camping there."

They then plan to move the team to the Germany city of Wurzburg, where they will be based for the duration of the tournament.

The FA spokeman also announced several friendly matches which are being set up for the Black Stars.

"We have confirmed a match with South Korea to be played on 4 June in Scotland but we're working to have it moved to London.

"We're also far advanced in our negotiations to play against Iran, Belgium, Columbia and Ukraine ahead of the World Cup finals."

Ghana have a tough task ahead, preparing for Germany especially after failing to impress at the just-ended African Nations Cup in Egypt.

The west Africans are paired in group E with Italy, Czech Republic and the USA.