…as CAF moves Eagles, Ghana clash to Baba Yara Stadium
The Super Eagles will now play their 2022 World Cup final qualifiers against Ghana’s Black Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, as PUNCH Sports Extra can reliably inform that the Video Assistant Referee equipment has already landed at the stadium ready for installation.
This is coming after officials of the Confederation of African Football inspection team visited the Baba Yara Stadium and the earlier slated venue, the Cape Coast Stadium, to inspect their facilities, following a protest by Nigeria.
There have been doubts over the earlier slated Cape Coast Stadium venue for the crucial tie, after the Ghanaian government celebrated the country’s 65th independence anniversary there on March 6, which affected the stadium’s pitch.
Pictures online showed the pitch had large dry portions and holes in some other parts after the massive celebration at the stadium.
Subsequently, the Confederation of African Football rejected the stadium — despite efforts by the National Sports Authority to ensure the pitch was ready for the game on March 25 — and have now approved the Baba Yara Stadium as match venue.
According to a top CAF official, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, the football body has already conveyed VAR equipment to Baba Yara Stadium for the play-off first leg match.
“The match is now billed for the Baba Yara Stadium and all VAR equipment are already there,” our source said.
According to Ghanaweb.com, Nigeria had asked FIFA to move the match to a neutral ground, with neigbouring Benin Republic their preferred choice, but Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick dismissed the reports, describing it as “mere speculation.”
“On what basis are you saying they (Ghana) shouldn’t play there (Baba Yara Stadium)? They should play there. Football is meant to unite and not to divide. What if we get to Benin, is it not 11 players versus 11 players. What’s the guarantee we can beat them there?
“This is a crucial game, taking it outside Ghana could cause a cold war between these countries, and we don’t want that. The Kumasi pitch is very okay, just like the Abuja stadium. So, I think we can play there. I believe we can beat Ghana anywhere with a good team.”
- The stadium was built by the United African Company in 1957, with its stands were first constructed in 1971
- It was originally known as Kumasi Sports Stadium but renamed after Kumasi-born footballer Baba Yara in 2004
- It’s a 40,528-capacity arena and home to local giants Asante Kotoko
- The stadium hosted matches at the 1978, 2000 and 2008 AFCON
- Ghana’s U-23 team beat Nigeria 2-0 at the stadium to advance to the 2011 African Games on the away goal rule after aggregate score stood at 3-3
- The latest renovation works at the stadium were delayed by the pandemic but ended last year
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