Africa-Press – Ghana. Ghana have been marshalling all the required forces ahead of the decisive 2022 World Cup playoff against sworn rivals Ghana this month.
The Football Association has been coy on the squad expected to deliver the country’s fourth World Cup berth.
The leadership of the football association has been holding series of meetings with the principal stakeholders ahead of the must-win game.
Ghana FA boss Kurt Okraku has been meeting with ex-players on their roles, administrators thought to be his opponents, the media, fans and aggrieved members of the football fraternity.
The administration of Mr. Okraku has been dogged with accusation of nepotism and cronyism over multiple and widespread appointments since he took the reigns of power.
Critics within has heightened since he took over the administration of football in Ghana and is bent on changing the narrative.
He is reported to have held closed-door meeting with persons believed to be his opponents in a move to court collective national support ahead of the showdown against the Super Eagles on March 25 in Kumasi.
Ghana coach Otto Addo has delayed the release of the squad for the decisive match with barely 8 days for the first leg tie at the Baba Yara Stadium.
The stakes are extremely high for the two nations as they prepare to square-off at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi and the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on March 25 and 29 respectively.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the change of venue on Wednesday night after the Cape Coast Stadium was rejected by the continent’s governing body.
The Super Eagles travel to the feared Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on March 26 before the reverse fixture takes place at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on March 29.
Chairman of the foremost fans club in the country, Rev. Samuel Ikpea, believes such united support from sports loving Nigerians would guarantee Super Eagles qualification for the World Cup.
The Nigerians have been talking tough ahead of the crunch double-header both in Ghana and Nigeria this month.
The winner of the tie over two legs will qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the Confederation of African Football confirmed the Baba Yara stadium as the venue to host Ghana’s crucial first leg encounter against West African rivals Nigeria.
This comes after the inspection team from CAF rejected the Cape Coast stadium, stating it is unfit to host the game on March 25.
The news has been received with great excitement by Ghanaians and this has sent some shivers to Nigerians, knowing the last World Cup playoff game by Ghana ended with a huge victory over Egypt.
The Black Stars whitewashed Egypt 6-1 at the Baba Yara Sports stadium on October 15, 2013, making the second leg in Cairo a mere formality. Ghana qualified for the World Cup in 2014, thanks to the win in Kumasi.
The 6-1 drubbing is not the only famous win by Ghana in Kumasi, a year before the game against Egypt, the Black Stars thrashed Lesotho 7-0 at the same venue.
The Black Stars also defeated Ethiopia 5-0 at the Baba Yara sports stadium during the qualifiers for AFCON 2019. Kumasi produces goals for the Black Stars, hence a reason for the Super Eagles to panic.
Meanwhile, football is considered a religion in the Ashanti Region and when the Black Stars arrive in town they are kingly received.
The fans troop to the stadium in numbers to watch Ghana play all the time, and as usual the 40,000 capacity seater stadium is expected to be filled to the brim.
Ghana will hosts Nigeria on March 25 for the first leg before travelling to Abuja in four days time for the second leg.
For More News And Analysis About Ghana Follow Africa-Press
