Source: Daily_Mail
Boateng happy to focus on Pompey after Africa Cup of Nations dream fails
Fiery: Boateng has impressed for Portsmouth[LNB]Kevin Prince Boateng insists he has no regrets about choosing to represent Ghana over Germany, for whom he played at youth level, despite missing out on next month's African Cup of Nations because of concerns over his legitimacy to play for the country of his father's birth.[LNB]The 22-year-old Berlin-born midfielder missed out on a place in the Black Star's squad because FIFA were unable to ratify his registration in time despite the Ghana Football Association apparently providing proof of his father's roots.[LNB]And the midfielder's omission could pay the ultimate dividend for his rock-bottom Portsmouth side who are already set to lose four players to the tournament in Angola.[LNB]Pompey will be without Hassan Yebda (Algeria), Kanu (Nigeria), Aruna Dindane (Ivory Coast) and Nadir Belhadj (Algeria) for most of January. [LNB]The latter also turned his back on the European country he represented at youth level, when he swapped France U 18s for the World Cup bound north Africans.[LNB]Now Boateng hopes that eventually he will follow in Belhadj's footsteps.[LNB] Switch allegiance: Boateng (left) featured for his country of birth at the European Championships in 2006, impressing against England[LNB]'Ghana is definitely my future, 100%,' Boateng said. 'I want to play for the Black Stars. If I keep going and play well for Portsmouth and we stay up, I think there's a big chance for me to go to the World Cup.[LNB]'I'm not unhappy that I'm not at the African Cup of Nations. It would just be unbelievable to be playing there for Ghana but it looks now that I won't be going so I'm just happy to try to keep Portsmouth up.'[LNB]Former Spurs man Boateng has excelled at Fratton Park since his move in the summer, putting a nightmare two years at White Hart Lane behind him. [LNB]The fiery figurehead of Portsmouth's midfield thrust has notched three times and added some much needed guile to the league's lowest scorers.[LNB]His nervous international wait echoed that of former Arsenal man Quincy Owusu-Abeyie. [LNB]The forward's switch from a former Dutch youth international to Ghanaian international was only confirmed by FIFA on the eve of the deadline for the 2008 Nations Cup.[LNB] 'Flattered' James issues come and get me plea to Spurs boss RedknappGareth Bale poised for Spurs chance as Benoit Assou-Ekotto heads for Africa Cup of NationsSportsmail looks at the Xmas gifts Premier League clubs REALLY wantedALL THE PORTSMOUTH FC
