Ghana’s plans for their decisive 2022 World Cup play-off against rivals Nigeria have been thrown off gear after football’s world governing body, FIFA, changed the dates for the two matches to be played next month.
The two matches to decide which of the two countries would seal a ticket to the World Cup in Qatar was originally scheduled for Thursday, March 24 and Sunday, March 27.
However it has now been moved to Friday, March 25 to Tuesday, March 29.
The news comes as a big relief for both sides whose squad are dominated by players plying their trade in Europe with some of the top clubs in the world.
With these players playing for their clubs at the weekend before the matches, they would have had just two or three days of training before playing in the first-leg of the two matches.
But with the change in dates, the teams will have one more day of training before the first leg while extending the training day for the second-leg by another day.
With television massively interested in telecasting all the matches in the playoffs, the changes in the dates will also greatly enhance coverage and reach.
The Black Stars will first host the Super Eagles in Cape Coast before traveling to Abuja for the second leg.
The winner of the two-legged game qualifies for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year.
The Black Stars are hoping to make a return to the Mundial after missing the 2018 edition in Russia.
Full details of the changes are below:
Match: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play offs – Ghana vs. Nigeria (First Leg)
Date: Friday, March 25, 2022
Venue: Cape Coast stadium
Kick-off: 19:30Hrs
Match; FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play offs – Nigeria vs. Ghana (Second Leg)
Date; Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Venue: Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja
Kick off: 17:00 GMT
