Former Chelsea manager, is set to be named as the next Black Stars coach before the close of the week.
This was disclosed by the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, in a post-match interview at the Entebbe Airport in Kampala last Saturday.
Mr Nyantakyi revealed that the GFA had already had preliminary discussions with the veteran Israel trainer who is currently in Accra and were looking forward to sealing the deal in Tamale by Wednesday when Grant watches the Stars against Togo in the final AFCON 2015 Group E qualifier.
“As I speak, Avram Grant is in Accra and will be in Tamale to watch the Togo game.
“By the time we return from Tamale we would have completed a deal with him,” Nyantakyi assured.
He said during the interaction with him, Avram Grant came across as an experienced coach who had a fair knowledge of African teams whom he described as having the talent and skill but lacked a strong mentality to succeed at the big stage.
“He said African teams have the skill and talent but lack a strong mentality.”
“You need passion, skill and talent to succeed,” said Grant during the preliminary discussion.
Asked what else made Grant the FA's preference above the rest, the GFA boss said “Avram Grant is a motivator; he has the capacity or skill to manage egos of top players which is typical of the Black Stars.”
“You will remember that Avram Grant managed a Chelsea side which had four national team captains - Ballack, Shevchenko, John Terry and Drogba -- and sent them to the final of the UEFA Champions League,” Nyantakyi recalled to buttress his argument.
On the issue of the challenge Grant faces with regard to his entry into North African countries due to his Israeli citizenship, Mr Nyantakyi explained that it was a matter of concern which was currently being addressed by his camp.
"He will not only be denied entry to North Africa but the Arab world as well. But that is an issue they have brought up an alternative solution to arrest the trend.
"In a matter of two to three months time this issue will be resolved and very soon we will see an end to it, the GFA president said.
He was confident that the Stars would get the needed result on Wedensday to qualify despite losing 0-1 to the Cranes of Uganda away last Saturday.
He noted that the defeat notwithstanding, the young Stars team played better in Kampala than they did in Kumasi in the first leg, and was, therefore, convinced of a better showing in Tamale against Togo.
"The team is young; they conceded an early goal and that made the difference," he stressed.
