Coach Otto Addo is expecting a full house by the close of business on Monday night as the team prepares ahead of the 2022 World Cup playoff against Nigeria.
Ghana host Nigeria in a two-legged encounter for a place among the five teams to represent Africa at the Qatar World Cup.
Players invited for the clash have received their air tickets and will be arriving in the country from Saturday night, GHANAsoccernet.com has gathered.
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Despite the Ghana FA strategy not to release the squad in time for the game, GHANAsoccernet.com has gathered that the squad will be dominated by players to have featured in the 2021 AFCON and some debutants.
Ghana will open camp on Monday March 21, 2022 with the team expected to train in Accra before flying out to Kumasi.
The four-time AFCON champions will continue with preparations in Kumasi on Tuesday.
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium will host the crucial encounter on March 25 at 6pm.
The Stadium has been given a one-match approval to host the 2022 World Cup playoff first leg.
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.
- 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.
