Ghana fails in alleged plot to destabilize Super Eagles ahead of match

A plot by Ghanaian officials to destabilize Nigeria’s Super Eagles ahead of both country’s match scheduled for Friday has been uncovered.

The match, which is the first leg final qualifier for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, is slated to hold with the Ghanaian Black Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, with the reverse fixture in Abuja four days later.

Ghanaians were reportedly afraid that they might not stand a chance against the star-studded Nigerian side and have instead resorted to off-field tactics to win the first leg by a high score line and turn the return leg in Abuja to a mere formality, The Punch reports.

According to the report, a source close to the Ghanaian football authorities disclosed that Black Stars officials have been working on the plan to destabilize Nigerian star players by rejecting their COVID-19 certificates, run their own tests in order to psychologically demoralize Nigerians.

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“I was told two weeks ago of a plot by the Ghanaians to make sure they defeat Nigeria in the first leg by a wide margin. My Ghanaian contact told me to tell the NFF to instruct their team that they shouldn’t eat anything at the hotel, including drinking and bathing water”, the source said

“This afternoon, they called me again. Now, I learnt they’ve hatched another plot to destabilise or disqualify the Eagles star players. What they want to do is that they will claim that the (COVID-19) certificates presented by our key players are not tenable, that they will have to conduct their own tests. Even if they later clear the players, the players would have been discouraged, because it would come late.”

Meanwhile, the Eagles have reportedly adjusted their travel plans and will not jet out to Kumasi on Thursday (today). They were earlier scheduled to fly out from Abuja on Wednesday.

It was also learnt that officials of the three-time African champions have made new arrangement for their accommodation in the neighbouring West African country.

The team was earlier scheduled to lodge at the 3-Star Noda Hotel but a statement on Wednesday by the NFF said the squad will now lodge at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi.

Also, President, Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, says the federation is doing everything legal and acceptable for Nigeria to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Pinnick made this known during a meeting with some members of the NFF Executive Committee at the federation’s secretariat on Wednesday.

“Of course, we are not the ones going into the field,” Pinnick said.

“But the arrangements we put in place will, to a large extent, determine the spirit with which the players will enter the pitch. All our arrangements must be flawless and without sloppiness. It is a FIFA World Cup ticket at stake, so we must give it our all.

“Whatever efforts we have been making to ensure seamless movement to and fro, as well as accommodation of our contingent at major matches, must be doubled for the match in Kumasi.

“Nigerians don’t want to hear any story; they only want to see the World Cup ticket.”