CAF reportedly rejects Cape Coast as host venue for Ghana clash against Nigeria

Ghana host Nigeria in the first leg of the playoffs for Qatar 2022 world cup later this month. Caf inspection team was at Baba Yara Stadium last Sunday when Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko thrashed weak side Bibiani Gold Stars in Sunday evening football.

The Caf move to the Baba Yara came after hints that the Cape Coast Stadium could fail to deliver the task between Africa’s two great football nations.

The Cape Coast stadium was the initial venue for the match but concerns have been raised after Ghana celebrated her 65th independence day celebrations at the stadium on 6th March .

According to our grapevine sources, CAF rejected the Cape Coast stadium because of the ‘bad” state of the pitch and concern that Video Assistant referee (VAR) can’t be installed at the stadium.

We gather that, the CAF inspection team was partially satisfied with the Baba Yara stadium and recommend it as the ideal stadium for the encounter.

However, Nigeria must agree to change the venue to the Baba Yara stadium before CAF will decide whether the game will be played in Kumasi.

CAF inspection team at Baba Yara Stadium

Ghana has written to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to consider switching their home grounds from the Cape Coast to the dreaded Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the 2022 World Cup play off against Nigeria.

The Cape Coast Stadium was originally penciled to host this game but after the Independence day celebrations that pitch is in a deplorable state which is not conducive for football.

On Sunday before the Kotoko vs Bibiani Gold Stars game, inspectors from CAF were accompanied by an official of the GFA, Alex Asante and Kotoko Administrative Manager Emmanuel Dasoberi for the inspection of the stadium.

The Black Stars are at a crossroads as they may suffer a double jeopardy if they fail to make it to the 2022 World Cup after a dismal showing at the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Under the stewardship of Serbian trainer Milovan Rajevac, the Black Stars failed to make it out of their group at the nations cup.

The Black Stars suffered a humiliating group stage exit in a group that had Gabon, Comoros and Morocco with Ghana finishing rock bottom.

Since then, the Ministry of Youth and Sports have apparently taken matters into their own hands as they have forced the hand of the GFA to sack the Serbian trainer with Otto Addo appointed to the team for the crunch two legged tie with the Super Green Eagles of Nigeria.

The winner of the tie between Ghana and Nigeria later this month will head to the mundial in Qatar with the first leg in Ghana before the final leg is played in Nigeria.

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium has served Ghana so well in all its three World Cup appearances in 2006, 2010 and 2014 as it was Ghana’s home grounds.

Ghana will play host to Nigeria on March 25, 2022 before the reverse fixture at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on March 29, 2022.