The Ghana Football Association has appealed Ethiopia’s decision to host their 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifier at Orlando Stadium.
The Ethiopian Football Federation through their secretary Bashir Tilahun sought the use of Orlando on November 11 after the Bahir Dar Stadium was deemed unfit to continue hosting international matches by CAF.
Bahir Dar Stadium is the only facility in Ethiopia that had been approved prior to the latest developments.
With both Ghana and South Africa involved in the battle to win Group G, the West Africans have expressed concern that playing such a key match in the territory of their rivals will give Bafana Bafana an unfair advantage.
Ethiopia have already reached an agreement with SAFA about playing The Black Stars at Orlando which will then make their travel arrangements easier when they travel into neighbouring Zimbabwe for the final qualifier three days later.
“Following Ethiopia Football Association request to have their World Cup qualifier against Ghana in South Africa, the Ghana Football Association last Friday wrote to the world’s football governing body to ensure that there is fair play in the last two matches.
“Ghana and South Africa are separated by one point leading to the last two world cup group matches. It is therefore shocking that the Ethiopia Football Association will seek to take their home match against Ghana to South Africa.
“The Ghana Football Association has indicated to FIFA that the sporting integrity of the World Cup matches must not be compromised and must ensure that fairness prevails in the remaining two group matches.
“The GFA is of the view that it is wrong for a game of this magnitude to be played in a country which is in the same group and in contention for the top spot and urge CAF and FIFA to ensure that fair play is practised to the latter in this matter.
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