Brazil confirm Ghana friendly, not venues

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 5 - Brazil confirmed on Monday they had arranged friendly internationals against Ghana later this month but said they could not disclose the venue.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on its Web site (www.cbf.com.br) that Brazil would play Chile on March 24 and Ghana three days later.

The announcement was made after the games had been included on FIFA's official fixture list. FIFA listed Gothenburg and Solna, in the metropolitan region of Stockholm, as the respective venues.

On Sunday, the Swedish soccer Web site Fotbollskanalen.se, quoting the match promoters, gave the same venues and dates as FIFA.

"The CBF informs that the information about the games is true...and all that is missing is the signing of the respective contracts," said the CBF statement.

"The CBF also makes it clear that it did not officially inform about the friendlies because the venues still have to be confirmed."

Brazil have played six full internationals under coach Dunga, who replaced Carlos Alberto Parreira after the World Cup. Dunga suffered his first defeat in charge last month in the 2-0 defeat by Portugal in London.

Although Brazil is bidding to host the 2014 World Cup, the national team have not played a match at home since a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in Oct. 2005.

Brazil beat Chile 5-0 in their last meeting in Brasilia in Sept. 2005 and Ghana 3-0 in a World Cup second round match last year.