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GHANA ASK FIFA TO MOVE EGYPT WORLD CUP CLASH

at 9:09 PM

The Ghanaian FA have written to FIFA requesting that their crucial World play-off return leg against Egypt on November 19 be moved to a neutral venue.



Ghana play host to Egypt next Tuesday, October 15, at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi ahead of the return leg in Cairo next month with a place at next summer's World Cup finals up for grabs.

The continuing civil unrest in Egypt, however, has led Ghana to petition world football's governing body for the second leg to be staged at neutral venue due to security concerns.

“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) wishes to kindly request FIFA to move the venue for the 2014 World Cup Qualifying second-leg, play-off between Egypt and Ghana on 19th November, 2013 from Egypt to a safe and secure venue,” read GFA's letter to FIFA published on Tuesday.

The statement went onto read: “We are seriously concerned about the security and safety of our delegation and spectators if the match would be played in Egypt as events in the country pointedly indicate that our delegation could be exposed to danger as the violence and insecurity in the country continues relentlessly.

“Much as we sympathise with our brothers at the Egyptian Football Association, we are highly concerned about the security and safety of our players, officials and supporters and would like FIFA to take the necessary steps to protect lives and from both Ghana and Egypt during the second-leg game.

“Consequently, we hereby kindly request that in consonance with FIFA’s tradition in similar circumstances, the match be moved to a neutral venue to forestall the potential but avoidable threat to life and property."

FIFA are yet to clarify their stance on the matter although a decision is unlikely until after next week's first leg.

Meanwhile, Ghana suffered a huge blow ahead of that match after Kevin Prince-Boateng was ruled out because of a left knee injury.

The 26-year-old - one of the stars of the Ghana side that reached the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals - suffered the injury in his club Schalke's 4-1 Bundesliga victory over Augsburg on Saturday.

Boateng only just agreed to return to the national side after staying away for two years, but he was unable also to play in their final World Cup group match against Zambia last month because of an injury he picked up in training for the game.