Ghana midfielder Mubarak Wakaso says they are focused on winning Saturday's 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda, despite controversies surrounding the team.
The Black Stars have been caught in the crossfire between the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Sports Ministry over team selection and winning bonus.
While the Minister of Sports, Nii Lante Vanderpuye wants coach Avram Grant to select home-based squad, so as to avoid cost involved in flying down players, since Ghana have already qualified for the final tournament, the GFA, on the other hand, is insisting that the sticks to his original 23-man squad consisting of only two home-based players to be used.
But according to Wakaso, "The game against Rwanda is an important game for us".
Speaking to media men on Thursday, he said, "We do not care about the bonus. All we need is for Ghanaians to support the team for us to win. You can see that we are all very focused and determined to do the job. All we want is for the nation to support us so we deliver for them against Rwanda".
“We want to maintain our momentum and continue our preparations for the World Cup qualifierâ€, he added.
The number of local players, though, has now increased with three more additions due to injuries and late arrivals on the part of some foreign-based players.