Somalia To Play World Cup Home Game In Accra

Accra, Sept. 17, GNA - The senior national team, the Black Stars, World Cup qualifier against war-ravage Somalia in Mogadisu, has been rescheduled for Ghana.

Mr Kofi Nsiah, General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), told the GNA Sports in Accra on Wednesday that the new twist was as a result of the unstable political situation in that country, which necessitated FIFA to move the two-leg affair to Ghana.

The matches will be played within a five-day period between November 14 and 19, which has been declared as FIFA's free periods. The first leg was initially scheduled for Somalis capital Mogadishu, on Sunday, September 12, but the GFA wrote to FIFA to inquire about the safety of the place.

FIFA wrote back, declaring the place unsafe and subsequently, asked Somalia to look for an alternative venue.

Unfortunately, the two venues proposed by Somalia - Djibouti and Kenya - will also be busy on September 12 hence, the shift to Ghana. Sequel to this, the Somali FA wrote to the GFA on September 14 confirming to play both matches in Ghana but asked the GFA to furnish it with the match venues and accommodation arrangements.

Mr Nsiah, however, told the GNA that the FA and the new coach Ralf Zumdick are to meet later on Wednesday to decide on the match venues. A source however, said it is likely the matches will be played at the Obuasi and Accra Sports Stadiums respectively.