Ghanaians accuse Nigeria of inducing citizens with cash to sabotage Black Stars
There are allegations that Nigerian authorities have hired disgruntled Ghanaians including sports journalists, football administrators and hungry football fans for insider information
Reports from the media in Ghana are alleging that Nigeria have recruited what they called Ghanaian back-stabbers to conduct surveillance on the Black Stars ahead of the 2022 World Cup playoff between the two nations.
An online newspaper in Ghana without naming sources alleged that Nigeria authorities are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to edge past Ghana for a place in Qatar in November.
The medium claimed Nigerian authorities have hired disgruntled Ghanaians including sports journalists, football administrators and hungry football fans are being used to hire hotels and give team's insider information to the opponents.
Issues of injuries, team weak points, hiring of spiritualists to help them win against Ghana as being employed in the most extraordinary manner.
They also claimed Nigerians will be visiting churches, mosques and shrines to aid their push for a ticket to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
They went on to say that Ghana FA has been marshalling forces from principal stakeholders ahead of the must-win game against the Nigerians.
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 host Nigeria on March 25 for the first leg before travelling to Abuja in four days' time for the second leg.
