Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah said the controversial Mbombela Stadium pitch in Nelspruit will not be a distraction for his players in Wednesday's African Nations Cup semifinal against Burkina Faso.
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Much of the grass had been killed by a fungus in the build-up to the tournament after recent heavy rains and had to have a coating of sand, leaving it hard and patchy in a major embarrasment to organisers.
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Appiah sought on Tuesday to deflect from the issue.
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'' We need to compete whether the pitch is good or bad '', he told reporters.
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'' My players are all professionals and used to different conditions. Back home in Ghana we play regularly on far worse pitches. We need to take our mind off the pitch issue ''.
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Burkina Faso have played all five of their matches in the lead up to the surprise semifinal appearance at the venue, which sit on the outskirts of Nelspruit amid rolling hills.
The pitch is really bad but that shouldn't be concentrated on. They are all representing nations, that shld be priority
Yes you are very right, the coach just wants to take the cup back home. That is all he wants