Qatar 2022 World Cup Qualifier: CAF reject Kumasi Stadium as Ghanaians cry for new coach 

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected Kumasi Stadium as the venue for the March World cup playoffs between Black Stars of Ghana and Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Ghana had initially submitted Cape Coast Sports Stadium meeting December 23 deadline allowed by the continental body for countries to pick venues for the playoffs.

But a letter from Ghana National Sports Authority reportedly asked the Ghana FA to move the match to Kumasi to pave way for preparation for Ghana’s Independence Celebration on March 6 at the initial venue.

CAF however noted that the original venue has already been inspected and that it was not in a position to accept a fresh venue after the deadline has been met. 

The Black Stars will host Super Eagles in the first leg of the two-legged playoffs before hitting Abuja for the second leg to determine who picks a ticket to the World cup in Qatar.

Part of the CAF statement in rejecting the requests includes

“The Fifa World Cup 2022 preliminary competition regulations in its article 21 venues, kick-off times and training sessions stipulate 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.”

“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”

Meanwhile, former GFA Spokesperson Sannie Daara has joined thousands of Ghanaians in demanding for early appointment of a new coach. 

Ghanaians are torn between Otto Addo and Chris Hughton.

For Daara, Otto Addo has what it takes to lead the Black Stars ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier against Nigeria. 

However, the ace journalist like other supporters of Black Stars is worried by the FA's delay in naming a new coach while Nigeria are 'focused' and will be releasing their squad for the game in the coming days.

“We’re just about 4 weeks to playing against Nigeria. Anything other than being focused on that match against Nigeria is us shooting ourselves in the foot. And I say these things for two reasons, while journalists have been sent on a wild goose chase, the Nigerians are focused," he told Joy FM.

“They will name their squad for the game against Ghana in the coming days, we don’t have anybody in charge. So the wisest thing the GFA can do is to look for somebody that knows the squad, that knows the players, has worked with the players, knows the psyche of Ghanaian players and can move to stabilize the team in the midst of this outing in the AFCON that does not impress all of us, so that we can go with a strong face to face Nigeria,” he said.

“Anything other than that will further damage the team and will give us no chance in playing against Nigeria. And for that matter for me, Otto Addo ticks all the boxes,” he said.