Ghana seeking new friendly opponents after FIFA stops game with Nigeria

Published on: 02 March 2015
Ghana seeking new friendly opponents after FIFA stops game with Nigeria
Ghana are seeking new opponents after Nigeria's withdrawal

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been plunged into seeking a new opponent for a friendly for the Black Stars for this month following FIFA's decision to cancel the proposed match against Nigeria.

The world football governing body (FIFA) cancelled the proposed international friendly duel between the Nigeria's Super Eagles and the Black Stars on Friday night.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier announced that the Super Eagles would play Bolivia on March 26 in Uyo, and then take on the Black Stars on 29 March in London, but the friendly has now been scuttled.

FIFA said that it is against their regulations which states that no country should play two games across two continents in three days.

This development means the GFA must now seek for new opponents who are interested in playing the Black Stars on the said date.

"We are seeking new opponents following the FIFA decision to cancel the match between Ghana and Nigeria," the Ghana FA spokesman Ibrahim Sannie told a local radio station.

"The FIFA decision has affected our plans but we must quickly find opponents and we are working hard to find a replacement."

Ghana have the option to play all two matches during the FIFA free window next month either in Europe or Asia.

Reacting to the development, NFF General Secretary Musa Amadu confirmed the cancellation of the proposed friendly based on the new rule.

“There is a new rule that states that a team cannot play two friendly matches in two continents within a few days, if the distance between the two venues is more than five hours by air.

“However, the same does not apply if it is within the same confederation. We are therefore looking at an option of playing in Africa on the 29th after the Bolivia match in Uyo,” said the General Secretary.

Amadu also clarified that the proposed friendly match has not been agreed by the two football federations.

“We merely sent a proposal which the Ghana F.A had not consented to before this development,” said Amadu.

It would be recalled that the Black Stars finished second at the just ended 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea after losing 9-8 on penalties to new African champions, Ivory Coast.

The Super Eagles on the other hand were seeking to use the game against their sworn rivals to kick-start their preparations for the 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers.

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