Africa World Cup 2022 qualifiers: CAF rejects Ghana’s request to change venue for world cup play off against Nigeria
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) made a request to CAF to change the venue of Ghana world cup qualifying match against Nigeria from Cape Coast Stadium to Baba Yara Sports Stadium. However, the request was vetoed by CAF.
The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has denied the Ghana football Association’s request to change the venue of the Ghana-Nigeria World cup play off.
The first leg of the play off was scheduled to be played on March 23 at Cape Coast stadium, but the GFA wants to change it to Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Why Ghana wants to change the venue
Ghana’s idea of changing the venue is because the stadium would host Ghana independence day celebration on March 6.
The reason CAF vetoed the request
CAF denied the request because the Kumasi Sports Stadium is currently not approved by the Africa football ruling body to host international matches.
The stadium has been under renovations and CAF has not conducted an inspection to reassess the level of the stadium compliance to host games.
According to CAF regulations for the world cup 2022 qualifying matches:
“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.”
The deadline given by CAF for participants to submit the name of the venue for the match was December 24. The GFA informed CAF that they have selected Cape Coast stadium as the venue for the match on December 23.
As per the regulation:
CAF has promptly conducted the assessment of the selected stadium(s) and notified FIFA the venue selections for the World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers play-off round.
Therefore, CAF is not in a position to delay any further the confirmation of the match venue. More so, the match is due to play in less than 30 days.
That being said, if Ghana insist on changing the stadium, CAF will approve a stadium outside the country for the match, since there is no other approved venue for the match in Ghana.
Ghana and Nigeria are out of the ongoing AFCON tournament and their focus have been shifted to the World Cup qualifiers. Both teams will go all out to win the world cup ticket to appeal their fans for the disappointing outing at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
