Nigeria vs Ghana: VAR gadgets arrive in Kumasi

The Video Assistant Referee equipment has arrived in the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi where the Super Eagles will now play their 2022 World Cup final qualifiers against Ghana’s Black Stars

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, which affected the stadium’s pitch.

Pictures 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 to ensure the pitch was ready for the game on March 25 — and have now approved the Baba Yara Stadium as match venue.

According to Ghanaweb.com, Nigeria had 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.”

PUNCH/Nnenna.O