‘I declined the offer’ – Annor Walker explains why he’s not part of the 4 coaches going to World Cup

Head Coach of the Black Galaxies, Annor Walker has disclosed that he turned down the chance to be part of a list of coaches selected by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to travel with the Black Stars to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

On Friday, the Ghana FA announced that it has settled on four coaches to travel with the Black Stars to the World Cup on a working attachment. The trip will give them an opportunity to pick useful lessons from the biggest global showpiece and learn from the Black Stars Technical team.

The quartet include, Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum, a Premier League winner, formerly of Asante Kotoko who works as an Assistant Coach of the Black Galaxies, Samuel Boadu, Premier League and FA Cup winner with Hearts of Oak, Black Meteors Coach Ibrahim Tanko and Ignatius Osei Fosu, Assistant Coach of the Black Starlets.

The move from the Ghana FA was lauded by a plethora of football footballers. However, the exclusion of Annor Walker who led Great Olympics to a top six finish in the Premier league last season and also Ghana’s local national team to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the first time since 2014 was questioned.

Reacting to the development, Annor Walker in an interview with Oyerepa FM disclosed that he was invited to be amongst the local coaches traveling to Qatar. However, he turned down the opportunity due to preparations for the CHAN tournament which kicks off in January.

“I was invited by GFA to be part of the 4 coaches going to World Cup but I declined because from 20th when World Cup starts I will be busy in camp with Black Galaxies preparing for the Algeria CHAN tournament scheduled to take place in January 2023,” Annor Walker told Oyerepa FM.

“I will even travel outside Ghana within that period as well so we both agreed I can’t be part due to my national team engagement,” he added.

Ghana have been drawn in Group C for the group stages of the CHAN which kicks off on Friday, January, 13. The Black Galaxies are drawn alongside holders Morocco, two-time bronze winners Sudan and debutants Madagascar.