The Phobians arrival at the stadium was delayed by couple of minutes as their bus had a little problem
Hearts of Oak team bus fell into a gutter on their way to the Accra Sports Stadium ahead of the Ghana Premier League matchday 21 against Ashanti Gold.
The bus was later pulled out and headed to the stadium before the game started.
The Phobians are in a dire need of a win after a 1-0 defeat to Aduana Stars last weekend in Dormaa Ahenkro.
The Eagles striker was left out of this weekend’s FA Cup game against Everton after he reportedly contracted COVID-19
Ghana striker Jordan Ayew has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs against Nigeria.
The striker was left out of Crystal Palace’s squad to face Everton in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Ayew, if confirmed of testing positive for COVID-19, will have to be quarantined for two weeks and would therefore miss the double header against Nigeria.
Ghana will host Super Eagles at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on March 25 before they play the return leg four days later in Abuja.
Ayew handed a call up by Ghana coach Otto Addo to lead the Black Stars attack since his senior brother Andre Ayew was suspended.
However, the coaches must look elsewhere for options and reports suggest Aduana Stars striker Bright Agyei could be given the opportunity to fill the void.
The Super Eagles may face Ghana without their influential box-to-box midfielder after he picked up an injury in a Uefa Europa Conference League game on Thursday night
Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi appears to miss 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs against Ghana after suffering a knee injury in Leicester City’s 2-1 defeat in Europa Conference League game against Stade Rennes on Thursday.
Ndidi was forced out of the game by the 60th minute as he was replaced by James Madison.
According to medical experts, Ndidi may be out of action for at least two or three weeks since a medial ligament takes a lot of time to heal and with Ghana playing Nigeria just next week Friday, he looks extremely doubtful.
Although, Leicester lost the game, they went on to qualify with a 3-2 aggregate scoreline.
Meanwhile, National Sports Authority (NSA) of Ghana 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 in 202 Fifa World Cup qualifiers between Ghana and Nigeria next week.
Ghana will host Nigeria in the first leg at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi after Caf accepted a late change of venue.
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.
Although, the prices and printing of the tickets have not been concluded, fans can prepare their funds for them as the tickets will be on market in hours to come.
The game was initially billed to take place at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium but Caf rejected the venue due to its poor state currently.
“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 on Wednesday.
“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.
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.
Ahead of the last round of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers between Ghana and Nigeria next weekend in Kumasi, fans can buy tickets without stress to support the Black Stars
National Sports Authority (NSA) of Ghana 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 in 202 Fifa World Cup qualifiers between Ghana and Nigeria next week.
Ghana will host Nigeria in the first leg at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi after Caf accepted a late change of venue.
Fans can easily buy a ticket with their phones by dialing the short code *711# and select option 2 before filling other personal details to complete the process.
Successful ones will pick their tickets days or hours before the game at designated office or location.
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.
Although, the prices and printing of the tickets have not been concluded, fans can prepare their funds for them as the tickets will be on market in hours to come.
The game was initially billed to take place at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium but Caf rejected the venue due to its poor state currently.
“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 on Wednesday.
“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.
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 continent’s football governing body has has finally accepted Ghana’s decision to host the first leg of the World Cup playoffs at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium
Baba Yara Stadium to host Ghana vs. Nigeria World Cup play-off tie
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.
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:
2. 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;
3. Increase seating and lockers in the teams dressing rooms to reach (25) persons;
4. 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;
5. Set up the water system to provide both cold and hot water in the teams and officials dressing room;
6. General refurbishment of the CAF office, installation of modern desks and seats, including the necessary electronic and working equipment;
7. VOC must be available and equipped with all the necessary equipment and requirements;
8. Complete refurbishment of the media tribune, press conference room and media centre, installing new and modern equipment.
In order to follow the progress of the above-mentioned works in the stadium, CAF will designate a stadium inspector to conduct an onsite assessment up till the day of the upcoming FIFA match.
CAF again stated that there shall be an onsite stadium inspector to conduct further assessment of the facility until the day of the match and in the event that the above mentioned conditions are not met before the match; financial sanctions shall be imposed on Ghana.
The Baba Yara stadium replaces Cape Coast stadium which was originally scheduled to host the match.
Ghana will play Nigeria in the 1st leg on Friday, March 25, 2022 at 19:30GMT at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
The country’s football governing body’s chief has rejected suggestions that Fifa has decided to send the playoffs against Super Eagles to another venue
Ghana Football Association executive council member Frederick Acheampong has denied reports that Fifa has rejected Cape Coast Sports Stadium, which is Ghana’s venue for the 2022 World Cup playoffs against Nigeria.
Although, terrible footages of the facility, especially the pitch, circulated on social media last week which raised concerns ahead of the game, reports have suggested that Caf has concluded on rejecting the venue.
On Sunday, representatives from Caf were in Ghana to inspect the facility and first made a stopover at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium which Ghana FA presented as an alternative.
The reps were in Cape Coast on Monday for the final inspections.
“It’s unofficial. Sometimes we here [at Kessben TV/Radio] might report some stories which may end up as false,” Acheampong said on Kessben TV.
“Our media, especially the bloggers, like publishing stories without confirmation or follow-ups. There’s no single quote from FIFA in all the stories I saw earlier in the media landscape.
“They will all do the publication immediately they see it from other sources. It’s unofficial,” he added.
With less than ten days to the game, Ghana’s interim coach Otto Addo is yet to release the squad for the game but Orlando Pirates coach Mandla Ncikazi has revealed that goalkeeper Richard Ofori has been given a call up.
Reports also suggest that Ghana coach Otto Addo has named Dutch-born of Ghanaian descent Leeroy Owusu in the Black Stars squad to face Nigeria.
The 25-year-old defender is believed to have been called as a replacement to former Dreams FC right-back Philimon Baffour, who is reportedly dropped from the squad after failing to make a single appearance at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations held in Cameroon.
Owusu, who was born to Ghanaian parents in Netherlands, has previously represented Netherlands at the youth level. However, he has made 23 league appearances for Willem II in Dutch Eredivisie this season and Ghana FA has reportedly succeeded in his national switch with FIFA.
Also, Elisha Owusu and Antoine Semenyo are also believed been called for the game.
During last week, reports emerged that Otto Addo has dropped seven players who were part of the Black Stars squad that participated in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations ahead of the game.
Notable among the names dropped include Andre Ayew and box-to-box midfielder Wakaso Mubarak who could not kick a ball at the Afcon due to injury concerns.
Ayew, in particular, has been dropped because of suspension as he picked a red card against Comoros in the final game of the group stage at the Afcon.
Also, former Dreams FC player Philimon Baffour who has constantly been chastised by Ghanaians for his inclusion in the Black Stars has finally been dropped alongside RTU midfielder David Abagna Sandan.
Also, Yeni Malatyspor striker Benjamin Tetteh has been dropped following his ban by CAF after he was captured on camera for hitting a Gabonese player at the Afcon.
The others include Great Olympics forward Maxwell Abbey Quaye and St. Gallen goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi for poor run of performance. The shot-stopper, in particular, has been constantly conceding goals (44) in 23 games in the Swiss Premier League
It is the end of the road once again for the duo, who at a point seized the headlines of world’s football
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both been knocked out of the Uefa Champions League for the second time in a row.
The duo will not make an appearance in the Quarterfinals Round after Messi (PSG) was eliminated by Real Madrid and Ronaldo (Manchester United) also eliminated by Atletico Madrid.
Note that for each of them, their opponents were from Spain and also from the same city called Madrid.
Ahead of the game on Tuesday, all fingers were pointing to the fact that Ronaldo has gotten his mojo back after he netted a historic hat-trick few days ago against Tottenham Hotspur to become the highest scoring player ever in the history of football.
Therefore, expectations were high against Atletico, especially since the old Ronaldo we knew was a goal machine in the knockout stage of the competition.
However, things didn’t spun out the way he expected as the Spanish giants shocked United with a lone goal through Renan Lodi and further exposed their poor form which saw the exit of former manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer for Ralf Ragnick to take over.
Manchester United will now have to battle for a top four finish since the Premier League title looks quite an impossible feat to achieve.
The defender was forced out of Sunday’s win over Gold Stars with muscle injury, but could hand Prosper Ogum a massive boost ahead of next week’s game
Asante Kotoko captain Abdul Ganiu Ismail could yet hand the club a fitness boost ahead of their Ghana Premier League matchday 21 clash with Eleven Wonders next week in Techiman, after he reported to training in Tuesday
The defender, who was named in Kotoko’s starting line up against debutants Gold Stars on Sunday, was withdrawn before kick off as he picked up a muscle complaint during warm up.
Andrew Appau was quickly drafted in to replace the void and Kotoko went on to win 5-0 thanks to a brace from Mfegue Rodrigues and one goal each from Mbella Etouga, Augustine Agyapong and Samuel Boateng.
Also, Charles Owusu, Andy Kumi and other players who are now recovering from injury layoff were also present.
Kotoko are now currently leading the Premier League pack with 44 points, eight points better than Aduana Stars who are in second position.
Kotoko have now also opened a 15 point advantage between them and rivals Hearts of Oak.
The state’s owned electricity supplying company has cut the power that goes to the stadium due to several months of unpaid bills
Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) national Task Force has officially cut the power supply to the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday due to an unpaid debt to the tune of GH¢508,000.00
According to the leader of the taskforce, Nene Shadrack Mase, the amount represent an unpaid bills of ten months and the facility’s management have failed to make a 50% payment of the total debt, leading to their disconnection.
“What they have to do to be restored is pay one-fourth or 75% of the total debt and the rest of the debt will be scheduled for them. If there is a defaultment in payment, they will be cut off again,” Mr Mase said to JoySports.
He further informed that ECG have not received any assurance that the stadium’s debt is going to be met.
“No assurances had been given to us as we left the place. But if effort is being done on their part, the officer in charge of the schedule will inform us and we will restore power for them,” he added.
Due to the current situation on ground, Hearts of Oak’s matchday 21 fixture of Ghana Premier League against Ashanti Gold on Sunday is in a limbo.
This is because the game which was initially scheduled to take place at 3pm was rescheduled to 6:30pm due to Ghana U17 female national team’s Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Senegal at 3pm.
Since Hearts and Ashanti Gold game is to take place in the evening, if the power supply is not restored, the game could be moved from Sunday evening to Monday afternoon.
The country’s football governing body has changed the kick off time for the Premier League top-liner between the Phobians and Ashanti Gold
Ghana FA has changed the kick off time for the Premier League matchday 21 game between Hearts of Oak and Ashanti Gold at Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The initial kick off time was 3pm but it has been moved to 6:30pm due to Ghana’s Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Senegal.
Ghana will face Senegal at 3pm at the same venue.