Ghana's women's national football team, the Black Queens, are remain in place in the United Arab Emirates amidst the conflict in the region, having gone to Dubai to prepare for the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
The Queens arrived in Dubai on February 25 to take part in the Pink Ladies Cup and participate in a series of international friendlies, with the aim of sharpening the title contenders ahead of the biennial continental showpiece.
The UAE has found itself embroiled in the escalating instability in the region, with the country subjected to Iranian missile and drone attacks, heightened security alerts and travel disruption.
Following the outbreak of war, GFA President Kurt Okraku met with the team "to appeal for calm," according to a statement issued by the federation, as seen by ESPN.
He also discussed with the Ghanaian mission in the UAE, the Ministry of Foreign affairs and local security advisors in order to determine how to proceed with the Black Queens' plans.
Ultimately, it was decided that the team should remain in the country as the situation around them unfolds. They're currently lodged at the Four Points by Sheraton in Sharjah, less than 12km away from Dubai International Airport, which has been damaged by Iranian strikes.
Earlier this week, a delegation from the Ghanaian mission in the country visited the team on a "morale-boosting mission" and attempted to convince the players to remain focused on the Pink Ladies Cup amidst the heightening tensions, and despite several of nearby Dubai's most prominent landmarks having been hit by Iranian drone and missile attacks.
"We want the team to stay calm and focus on the competition," Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto told the GFA's official site.
"The government and the embassy are doing everything possible to ensure your safety and well-being."
With many flights suspended in and out of the countries, it remains to be seen how feasible it would have been for Ghanaian authorities to have evacuated their delegation of 25 players and 16 officials from the country had that been the official advice.
Ghana began their exhibition tournament campaign with a 4-0 victory over Hong Kong at the Al Hamriya Sports Club on Saturday -- the same day the first of this wave of US and Israeli strikes began on Iran -- before dispatching Russia by the same scoreline on Wednesday.
The WAFCON is due to kick off in Morocco on March 17, but amidst rumours of the host nation pulling out at the last minute, and the Confederation of African Football yet to identify a replacement venue, there is considerable uncertainty about whether the competition will proceed as planned.
CAF have indicated that there will be an announcement by Friday March 6 to reveal the WAFCON's fate.
The Black Queens are set to conclude their Pink Ladies Cup campaign when they face Tanzania on the coast of the Persian Gulf on Friday, by which point they will likely know whether or not the WAFCON will be kicking off on March 17 as planned.
Hong Kong's football association opted to withdraw their women's team from the tournament amidst the ongoing violence, with the squad departing Dubai for Bangkok on Wednesday morning.
Ghana have been drawn into Group D alongside Cape Verde, Cameroon and Mali for the 16-team WAFCON, with all three of their opening-round matches set to be played in Fes.
