Essien misses plane and could be out of first game

(GSM) – Michael Essien will join Ghana’s training camp a few days later than planned.

The Chelsea midfielder received permission to stay in England until Sunday and was set to travel to Angola that day but the big freeze across Europe delayed his departure from London on Sunday.

“Essien was unable to make it out of London on Sunday,” according to a Ghanaian FA spokesman. “The bad weather (snow) prevented him from doing so as some flights were canceled.

“We are still in touch and he is now booked to arrive on Wednesday.”

Ghana’s scheduled Group B opener against Togo on Monday was called-off after the Hawks flew home on Sunday following the deadly gun attack on their bus in Cabinda two days earlier.

The Black Stars will play their first group match on Friday, against Cote d’Ivoire. It’s not sure if Essien is able to face the Elephants.

The midfielder will arrive in time in Angola, but hasn’t trained with the group so far while he also has been suffering from a hamstring injury.