The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have turned down Ghana Football Association’s request to name a new venue for next month’s 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs against Nigeria, Completesports.com reports.
The GFA is seeking to move the game from the Cape Coast Stadium to the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi.
The Cape Coast Stadium is set to host Ghana’s independence day celebration on March 6.
CAF rejected the request stating that it fell outside the time allowed for such and as a result the match is confirmed for the Cape Coast Stadium.
“The FIFA World Cup 2022 preliminary competition regulations in its article 21 venues, kick-off times and training sessions stipulates that “The venues of matches shall be set by the host association and/or by the confederation, as applicable, and the matches may only be played in stadiums that have been inspected and approved by the confederation concerned. The opponents and the FIFA general secretariat shall be notified by the host association and/or by the confederation, as applicable, at least three months before the match in question is due to be played,”reads a statement from CAF.
“24th of December 2021 was the deadline set by CAF for the participating national associations to select and communicate to Caf their preferred venue for the playoff round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers.
“On the 23rd of December 2021, GFA informed CAF that Cape Coast Stadium was the venue selected for the playoff round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers.
“Based on the venue selection received from each of the participating national association, CAF has timely concluded the assessment of the selected stadium(s) and communicated to FIFA the venue decisions for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers playoff round.
“Considering that matchday is in less than 30 days, CAF is not in a position to delay any further the confirmation of the match venue. As you are aware, the selection of the venue, respective date and time of the match, has to be set well in advance having a direct impact on the preparation of match logistics and operations by all the concerned parties.
“Besides, please note that Kumasi Sports Stadium is currently non-homologated by CAF to host international matches, since it has been under renovations and no CAF inspection was conducted to the stadium to re-assess the level of stadium compliance.
“Considering the above, the request of change of venue is not accepted, hence the match Ghana Vs. Nigeria for the playoff round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers should be maintained at Cape Coast Stadium.
“In case your association reiterate the position to change the venue, since there is no other approved venue in Ghana, your national team will be requested to play its upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers playoff round match in an approved stadium outside its territory, and the venue must be selected from among the stadiums approved by CAF.”
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COMMENTS
The Ghanaian nonsense gimmicks has started, hope our yeye NFF will be proactive for once. Thank God CAF stood rejected this one, only God knows another plan they are conceiving
I believe that considering this new development, Ghanaian president may decide to change their celebration for the independent venue to another stadium because Ghana cannot afford to take this important WCQ away from their country completely…
Well, Anywhere they decide to take it to may it favours us at the end.. I foresee the super eagles beating Ghana in Ghana 1-3 and playing a score-draw here in Nigeria..
Nigeria has always been a big ECOWAS brother to other WA countries as exemplified by TAC. NFF should donate Uyo stadium to Ghana to host their match.
Accra Sports Stadium, Babayara Sports Stadium (Kumasi) and Cape Coast Stadium are all good enough to host games.
The reason why Ghana prefer Kumasi Stadium (Babayara) is so as to enable them perfect every negative tactics to win. Kumasi was where Ghana crushed a star-studded Egypt 6-1 in World Cup qualify.
CAF’s decision to maintain Cape Coast venue should be a great news for SuperEagles. Cape Coast is like a neutral venue. You hardly see teams coming to Kumasi to pick a good result against Ghana.
Lol.. If Ghana beat us 6-1 even Eguavon won’t return to Nigeria.
This is just a distraction from the Ghanaians. I hope the NFF has learnt a good lesson from the pre-match events in the match against Tunisia.Expect more of these antics from the Ghanaians.
They will try everything to win the match but we have the resources to defeat them in both legs. Cerezo needs to select players that can give max concentration for 90+ mins. This is not a game for bloggers, but for serious minded and X-factor players that can give everything to win a match i.e. Balo, VM, Wilf,VO etc.
Good news. Kumasi is Black Stars fortress, that’s where they normally disgrace teams with big shorelines. Cape Coast is like a neutral group. The people of Cape Coast (Fante’s) aren’t as fanatical, violent and tribalistic as people in Kumasi. Cape Coast is like a neutral venue for visiting teams.
If this news is authentic, it’s great news for Super Eagles.
The mko Abiola stadium in Abuja would host the super Eagles home game against Ghana right?
Eguevon should bring in the boys who will do a good job. No Okoye-basket. No schoolboys’ye-ye players but bring in those serious & tested players like Amoo, Ighalo, Osimhen, Lookman and Ounachu of course, our strong Uzoho in goal. With these noted players, Ghana will fall, home & away.
If Ghana wants to play their home match away, Uyo stadium should be made available for them.
For his own security, Okoye should just stay away from Nigeria. People are planning harm to his poor person. These folks believe Okoye took bribe from the Tunisians to flip that goal to them.
The stupid tribalist is back.
Anyone who thinks Okoye took bribe from Tunisia should visit a psychiatric hospital ASAP lol. Okoye only made a costly mistake that’s all. People forget that Vincent Enyeama (who I respect so much) was responsible for Nigeria missing out of 2006 World Cup. The goal Enyeama conceded from a feeble-freekick against Angola (in Kano Stadium) gave the advantage to Angolans.
Goalkeepers can make mistakes, Okoye is not the first neither is he going to be the last.
Na word you speak so?
Se oro ni yen?
If they were invite and they refuse to answer or put their 100%, we should remember how they were kicked when they were down, instead of consoling and encouraging them in their periods of trial so they can become better.
No one is above mistake.
All the GFA has to do is to focus on calling the Perfect Players or merge the local teams like Kotoko, Hearts etc to play against Nigeria. Rightnow our current national team is not good. The players of local teams selected will play their heart for nation
Hope NFF will hasten Ademola Lookman’s switch to play for the super eagles before March 23rd play off with Ghana. More choices on the left wing with both Simon and Lookman and Chukwueze/Amao on the right feeding Osimhen at the center, Ghana is in trouble!
Nigeria had excellent team to reach final of African Cup final, they should bit Ghana to qualify for World Cup and also to prove that Nigeria is a country to be reckon with