Ahead of the first leg of the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs, we chronicle some of the recent good times the Black Stars have had over Super Eagles
Ghana will host Nigeria in the first leg of 2022 Fifa World Cup at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Friday.
It is a game the Black Stars need to win at all cost and possibly avoid conceding a goal. However, that will not come easy since the Nigerians are in a blistering form amid their disappointing run at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations held in Cameroon.
However, the Black Stars can take inspirations from the 4-1 thrashing of Nigeria in a friendly in England where Laryea Kingston, Asamoah Gyan, Stephen Appiah, Junior Ago, Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien made their opponents looked like mere minnows.
Watch Highlights of how Ghana silenced Nigeria
Nigeria’s contingent are expected to arrive in Ghana on Thursday from Abuja. They will then train at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and later lodge at the Golden Tulip Hotel between Thursday and Saturday.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved Ghana’s request to admit 40,000 spectators for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off first leg match against Nigeria at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
This comes after the Ghana Football Association request to play the game in full capacity stadium following the laid-down rules by CAF.
The GFA consequently advise all Ghanaians to obey all laid-down safety and security measures strictly to first and foremost have a successful match and also to avoid any sanctions from CAF and FIFA.
Meanwhile, fans are advised to strictly adhere to the designated spectator and stakeholders entry points and gates for verification of their tickets.
The play-off match between Ghana and Nigeria will kick off at 1930 GMT on Friday, March 25, 2022.
With barely 48 hours to the much-anticipated game between the Black Stars and Super Eagles, some of the tickets are already sold out
After a couple of hours since the E-ticket for the first leg of 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs between Ghana and Nigeria went live, the 5,000 seats allocated for VIP out of the total seating capacity of 40,528 have been sold out, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.
With each VIP ticket going for GH₵100 ($13.3), many Ghanaians and Nigerians have bought them and are now patiently waiting for Friday to support their respective country in a bid to make it to Qatar 2022.
Don't let anyone lie to you that Ghanaians, especially those in Kumasi and its environs, will not troop to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to support Black Stars against Nigeria on Friday.
Some of the tickets are sold out & others are on the verge of getting finished. Go Ghana🇬🇭🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/0g1HXUUvKL
— Evans Gyamera-Antwi (ASHES) (@ashesgyamera) March 23, 2022
National Sports Authority (NSA) of Ghana teamed up with Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as Ghana Football Association to come up with an easy way of purchasing tickets for the cliffhanger encounter in order to avoid the usual stress which supporters and enthusiasts go through.
Fans can now easily buy a ticket with their phones by dialing the short code *711# and then select option 2. They later fill a short form and their tickets numbers with barcodes will be sent to them for verification at the gates on Friday.
Anyone who wishes to be at the stadium can purchase a ticket for himself or herself as well as other friends and relatives. One mobile number can buy two tickets in order to avoid hoarding and black market.
As at Wednesday evening, the tickets left on the market were East Stand (Yellow) popularly known as Centre-line which goes for GH₵50 per ticket.
Current state of Baba Yara Sports Stadium
Also, some tickets for North Stand (Red) and South Stand (Green) are still available and each ticket costs GH₵30 respectively.
Ghana’s squad touched down in Kumasi on Tuesday and they later trained at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium with 26 players since Jordan Ayew was yet to report due to ill health.
However, the Crystal Palace forward arrived on Wednesday from England and has joined his teammates to fine tune ahead of the game.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s contingent will arrive in Accra, Ghana on Thursday morning. They will connect another flight from Accra to Kumasi and later train at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium which will host the game.
The Nigerians are expected to lodge at the Golden Tulip Hotel between Thursday and Saturday.
Nigeria squad to face Ghana:
Goalkeepers:
Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa);
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)
New arrivals: John Noble(Enyimba FC, Nigeria), Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain)
The Super Eagles have began their fine tuning ahead of the all-important game against Ghana for a place in the World Cup
Nigeria began their preparations for the first leg of 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs against Ghana on Tuesday and every player called was in camp as at Wednesday morning with the exception of Enyimba star John Noble and Sadiq Umar of UD Almeria.
However, the duo are expected to join their teammates by the close of the day as the team wrap up their preparations in Abuja this evening before they travel to Accra on Thursday morning.
Nigeria’s training in Abuja on Wednesday
They will connect another flight from Accra to Kumasi on Thursday and later train at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium which will host the game.
The Nigerian contingent are expected to lodge at the Golden Tulip Hotel between Thursday and Saturday.
The return fixture has been scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja and the winner after the two legs will automatically qualify for the World Cup to be played in Qatar in November.
Nigeria travelling squad to Ghana
Goalkeepers:
Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa);
Current state of Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi
Forwards:
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)
New arrivals: John Noble(Enyimba FC, Nigeria), Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain)
The country’s football governing body in conjunction with National Sports Authority have tediously worked put the facility in an awesome shape ahead of the game on Friday
Ahead of the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs between Ghana and Nigeria on Friday, Ghana government and Ghana Football Association have combined to get Baba Yara Sports Stadium in a very wonderful shape.
A fortnight ago, Fifa and Caf came out with a decision to reject Cape Coast Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Sports Stadium was then given a temporal license to host the first leg of the playoffs but several conditions were attached.
As a result, works serious began and as at Wednesday, almost 90 per cent of the recommendations were ready.
“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted a one match approval for Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to host the World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off match between Ghana and Nigeria,” a Ghana FA statement read last week Wednesday.
Current state of the stadium with 48 hours to kick off
“The approval comes after a CAF Licensing Inspector visited the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Sunday to inspect the facility.
“In a letter signed by CAF Development Officer, Raul Chipenda and sent to the General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association, Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq. and copied to FIFA, CAF stated that:
“Reference to the CAF stadium inspection conducted to Baba Yara Sports Stadium (Kumasi) for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers playoff round match, Ghana Vs. Nigeria scheduled for the 25th of March 2022, following the analysis of the report we have taken the following decision:
“Grant a one-match approval for the use of Baba Yara Sports Stadium (Kumasi) in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers playoff round match Ghana Vs. Nigeria;
Upon conclusion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 playoff round match, the stadium is automatically removed from the list of CAF approved stadiums and will only be approved for any subsequent CAF/FIFA international senior national teams matches and CAF men’s interclubs competitions following the implementation of all the CAF remarks”. The letter further stated that the following conditions must be met before the match against Nigeria. They include:
Installation of new international standard, modern and comfortable officials’ benches at pitch level;
Adjustment of the floodlight intensity. A minimum of 1200 Lux should be provided all over the pitch, covering uniformly every area of the playing field; Increase seating and lockers in the teams dressing rooms to reach (25) persons;
Installation of completely new modern equipment and materials in the referees dressing rooms and ensure that is equipped with all the necessary materials and CAF requirements;
Set up the water system to provide both cold and hot water in the teams and officials dressing room;
General refurbishment of the CAF office, installation of modern desks and seats, including the necessary electronic and working equipment;
VOC must be available and equipped with all the necessary equipment and requirements;
Complete refurbishment of the media tribune, press conference room and media centre, installing new and modern equipment.
Meanwhile, Ghana interim coach Otto Addo has announced a 27-man squad for the game with only one local player in the person of Dennis Korsah who plays for Hearts of Oak.
Others include Thomas Partey who is expected to captain the team following Andre Ayew’s suspension. There are other debutants like Antwi Adjei and Club Brugge defender Odoi
Also, the NSA has teamed up with Ministry of Youth and Sports and Ghana Football Association to come up with an easy way of purchasing a ticket for the cliffhanger encounter.
Fans can easily buy a ticket with their phones by dialing the short code *711# and select option 2.
This comes up as a result of public outcry on how tickets easily become too difficult to find especially on matchdays.
Anyone who wishes to at the stadium can purchase a ticket for himself or herself as well as other friends and relatives.
A trip to the stadium on Monday
The last time Ghana played Fifa World Cup playoff game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, the Black Stars annihilated Egypt 6-1 and went on to qualify with a 7-3 aggregate scoreline after losing the return fixture 2-1 in Cairo.
The forward was almost ruled out of the game after initially testing positive for COVID-19 over the weekend but can now play against Super Eagles
Ghana and Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew has been passed fit to play against Nigeria in the first leg of the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Friday.
The 29-year-old was initially tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend and that even ruled him out of Crystal Palace’s 3-0 victory over Everton in the FA Cup.
However, upon further checks on Tuesday, he has been passed fit to travel to Ghana and join the national team as Black Stars prepare for Nigeria.
“Jordan Ayew has tested negative for Covid and will join the team later this week in Kumasi ahead of the Nigeria game,” Director of Communication of Ghana FA Henry Asante said in an interview.
“Everyone is happy that he is finally coming. We know his quality and what he brings on board to the team. The coaches will determine whether he will start the game or not,” he added.
Meanwhile, twelve players who represented the country at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations have dropped from the squad to be used against Nigeria.
The shot-stopper was left out of the cliffhanger encounter leading to a lot of backlash from some Ghanaians
Ghana Football Association vice president Mark Addo has shed light on why Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim was not selected for the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs against Nigeria.
The 19-year-old has been in the form of his life but he was surprisingly snubbed despite interim coach Otto Addo naming four goalkeepers for the double header.
This has generated a lot of discussions as many Ghanaians believe one goalkeeper should have replaced either Manaf Nurudeen or Lawrence Ati-Zigi to add to Richard Ofori and Joojo Wollacott.
“The coaches have watched his (Danlad) tapes and they know his strength and weaknesses,” Addo told Kessben TV, as quoted by AshesGyamera.com.
“They compared him to all the goalkeepers called for Nigeria clash and that is why he wasn’t selected. This is only two games and I am sure they will continue to monitor and he will have his opportunity.
“I am not speaking for the coaches but every decision taken is based on information available to them. Let us just support the team for us to qualify,” he added.
Ghana will play Nigeria at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Friday and kick off has been scheduled for 19h30 GMT.
The return fixture will take place four days later in Abuja.
The midfielder has been in a scintillating form recently for his club but he was surprisingly dropped ahead of the World Cup playoffs
Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan has launched a scathing attack on Ghana Football Association and coaches of the Black Stars following their decision to exclude Anderlecht midfielder Majeed Ashimeru from the squad that will face Nigeria in the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs.
With the first leg of the tie scheduled for Friday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Ghana FA released a 27-man squad on Tuesday but Ashimeru was conspicuously missing.
The former WAFA star has scored three goals and provided three assists so far this season for Anderlecht and has become the fans’ favorite.
That decision irked Gyan who took to his social media to blast the technical handlers and Football Association for always calling players not on merit ahead of those that can help the country.
“This guy @MajeedAshimeru is the best midfielder in Ghana, after @Thomaspartey22 PERIOD,” Gyan Tweeted on Tuesday.
” I have kept quiet on this but this nonsense must stop. Smh,” he added.
Interestingly, despite the awesome performances by many local players in this season’s Ghana Premier League, Otto Addo and Ghana Football Association decided to overlook them and call only one player (Dennis Korsah) from Hearts of Oak.
However, Denis Odoi, Montari Kamaheni, Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Elisha Owusu and Felix Afena-Gyan have been given the chance to play their first game for Ghana if selected on Friday.
Out of the four goalkeepers called, none of them is playing in Ghana Premier League especially Bechem United goalkeeper Abdulai Iddrisu who has had 13 clean sheets from 20 games and Danlad Ibrahim of Asante Kotoko who is currently in the form of his life.
A lot of folks in Kumasi and its environs, just like Gyan, are not happy with the decision of the technical team.
They believe that it is unfair to overlook the players in the local scene, especially Asante Kotoko after their splendid performance this season. Kotoko top the Premier League log with eight points advantage.
The Black Stars are expected to touch base in Kumasi and fine tune before the cliffhanger encounter against Nigeria
Ghana interim coach Otto Addo has finally release a list of 27 players that will play against Nigeria in the first leg of the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs this weekend.
After several back and forth and public backlash by Ghanaians, the Football Association has opted to make the players called for the all-important game known.
Shockingly, all the top performers in the Ghana Premier League have been sidelined and there is only one local player in the person of Hearts of Oak left back Dennis Korsah.
Bechem United goalkeeper Abdulai Iddrisu who has kept 13 clean sheets after 20 games as well as Asante Kotoko shot-stopper Danlad Ibrahim have all been ignored.
Interestingly, Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori, Manaf Nurudeen, Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Joojo Wollacott have been called.
Also, Elisha Owusu, Felix Afena-Gyan, Christopher Antwi Adjei and 33-year-old Belgian defender of Ghanaian descent Denis Odoi, who plays for Club Brugge have been given their debut call ups.
Ghana will host Nigeria at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Friday and play the return fixture four days later in Abuja, Nigeria.
The winner after both legs will automatically qualify for the World Cup.
The country’s football governing body has slapped the Giants of the North’s home ground with an indefinite ban
The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has banned the Tamale Stadium indefinitely with immediate effect.
This decision was taken following assaults on the Match Officials by the home supporters in the Ghana Premier League match between Real Tamale United FC and Aduana FC on Sunday, March 20, 2022.
The Competitions Department of the GFA will now fix the venues for the upcoming home matches of Real Tamale United FC with due regards to the distance to be travelled by the away teams.
WATCH HOW RTU SUPPORTERS MANHANDLED THE REFEREE
Below is the letter sent to the Club:
“The seminars and meetings on Safety and Security at match venues organised by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for clubs and the GFA regulations on Safety and Security refer.
“It is against this background of the efforts invested into promoting the safety and security at our matches that the Association is shocked and extremely alarmed at the criminal assaults on the Match Officials at the Tamale Sports Stadium by the home supporters in the Premier League match between Real Tamale United FC and Aduana FC on Sunday, March 20, 2022.
“Again, considering the fact that the GFA has a process for complaining about any alleged bad officiating (if any) for redress through the Match Review Panel, the Executive Council of the Association see any attack on the Match Officials as “an attack against the entire sport, it being, unwarranted and criminal”.
The Executive Council has accordingly exercised its powers under Article 14(2) of the Premier League Regulations and has ban the venue indefinitely.
14(2) “The GFA may order the closure of any league centre/venue where the safety of clubs, match officials and/or spectators cannot be guaranteed”.
The GFA also notes that supporters of the home team, Real Tamale United FC went into the inner perimeter and attacked the match officials and condemns, without any reservations, the violations of the GFA Approved Matchday COVID-19 Protocols and the Safety and Security regulations which took place at the match.
The GFA Prosecutors have been tasked to prefer the appropriate Charges immediately and for the Disciplinary Committee to sit on this matter expeditiously.
The GFA demands that Real Tamale United FC shall immediately assist the Police to cause the arrest of the persons involved in the attack on the match officials, without fail, in accordance with the promise given by the clubs to the Inspector General of Police in our engagement with the leadership of the Ghana Police Service.
The Association has instructed the Competitions Department to fix the venues for the upcoming home matches of Real Tamale United FC with due regards to the distance to be travelled by the away teams (note that matches can be fixed at the home of the away team, if required).
That all clubs are to take note and comply strictly with the GFA Matchday COVID-19 Protocols and the Safety & Security regulations.
The GFA wishes to sound a strong note of caution to all members (especially all clubs) that the slightest harassment or attack on Match Officials (Referees, Match Commissioners, GFA Cameramen & Women, Venue Media Officers, the sports media) shall be dealt with severely and swiftly.
Also, any comments from any player, team or club official and club social media handles which incites supporters against match officials shall be dealt with as well.
There shall be zero tolerance for violence and incitement to violence in our game especially in this second round of the leagues.
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