The Nigeria Super Eagles will now play their 2022 World Cup final qualifiers against Ghana’s Black Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
DGN Online has gathered that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) 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, 2022 which affected the stadium’s pitch.
Some pictures which pop-up 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 (NSA) to ensure the pitch was ready for the game on March 25 — and have now approved the Baba Yara Stadium as match venue.
Information gathered indicates that CAF officials have already conveyed VAR equipment to Baba Yara Stadium for the play-off first leg match.
CAF officials have also booked their hotel accommodations in Kumasi ahead of the match.
Nigeria reportedly 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.”
By Vincent Kubi