Ghana accepts security for WCup play-off

Football | Ghana

Ghana football authorities and politicians say they are satisfied with security arrangements for Tuesday's World Cup play-off with Egypt in Cairo after assurances from world governing body Fifa.

Following a meeting called by Fifa on Thursday in Cairo, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said it held a "very successful" meeting with other parties to address security concerns for the match at the Air Defence Stadium.

"After reviewing the plan and detailed security arrangements for the match, the GFA is satisfied that adequate measures are in place for the security of our players, officials and supporters for the match," the president of the GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi, said in a statement.


Ghana are in a strong position to reach the World Cup finals after a 6-1 defeat of Egypt in the first-leg match on October 15 in the central Ghanaian city of Kumasi.

Ghanaian football authorities, players, fans and politicians had called for the venue of the second-leg match to be changed after political demonstrations and violence in football stadiums in Egypt.

Ghana's minister of Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, in a letter to Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke, said the ministry wanted to know from Fifa "who would be held liable, accountable and responsible in the unfortunate event of any Ghanaian being harmed before, during or after the match."
Ghana's Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien said Ghana had no other option than to honour the match in Egypt.

"I am not afraid or scared of the Egypt team. But I am frightened to play in Egypt because of the on-going fights over there," he was quoted as saying in Istanbul, where the Ghanaian team have been preparing for the match.

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama said he had been concerned about the unstable political situation in Cairo and the safety of the players and supporters.
"While we are reassured, we will hold Fifa and the Egyptian authorities responsible for any harm that is caused to any member of our team or supporters," he said.