Mohammed Sanusi: General Secretary of Nigerian Football Federation says Super Green Eagles not afraid of humiliating Baba Yara Stadium omen
Baba Yara Sports Stadium has been touted a grounds of humiliation for Black Stars opponents with Nigeria expected to be preyed in the same venue when they face Ghana in World Cup playoff next week Friday.
But the West African side are not afraid of the widely held omen about the stadium in Kumasi as Nigeria could pulled a string of surprise come forth, according to Dr Mohammed Sanusi.
The General Secretary of the Nigerian Football Federation, said there is no need to worry about the change of venue as well as the Ghana Football Association’s hide and seek with the list of Black stars players ahead of the huge 2022 World Cup playoff.
Sanusi said in a chat with brila.net after the Confederation of African Football approved the Baba Yara Stadium to host the first leg after rejecting the initially designated Cape Coast Stadium because of the poor pitch.
He added that the necessary logistical arrangements would be made and would not prevent teams from securing World Cup tickets.
Black Stars have certainly been boosted by the announcement of Baba Yara Stadium as the new venue for the first match.
The last time the feared stadium hosted a similar high-profile match was in 2013 and the Black Stars recorded a remarkable scoreline that Ghanaians still remember.
Black Stars whitewashed Egypt 6-1 in the first leg of playoff, with the second leg 2-1 defeat making difference, as the team qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
However, the 6-1 drubbing is not the only famous win by Ghana in Kumasi, a year before the game against Egypt, the Black Stars thrashed Lesotho 7-0 at the same venue.
The Black Stars also defeated Ethiopia 5-0 at the Baba Yara sports stadium during the qualifiers for AFCON 2019. Kumasi produces goals for the Black Stars, hence a reason for the Super Eagles to panic.
Meanwhile, football is considered a religion in the Ashanti Region and when the Black Stars arrive in town they are kingly received.
The fans troop to the stadium in numbers to watch Ghana play all the time, and as usual, the 40,000 capacity seater stadium is expected to be filled to the brim.
Ghana will hosts Nigeria on March 25 for the first leg before travelling to Abuja in four days’ time for the second leg.
