{Ghana’s African Cup of Nations qualifying home match against Uganda today will be opened free to fans to ensure massive support for the national team, Kwesi Nyantakyi, president of the Ghana Football Association, confirmed on Friday. }
“The Sports minister has passed that the gates are opened for free in tomorrow’s game against Uganda,” Nyantakyi said.
The decision was taken in consultation with the minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga, after fans showed disappointment in the Black Stars for their half-hearted performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The teeming fans snubbed the team during its first training at the match venue, the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, last Tuesday.
The move is to win back the hearts of the fans and ensure that they fill the stands on Saturday.
Nyantakyi is suggesting a possible arrangement to be adopted to prevent crowd problems.
“Even though it is free, we may have to adopt the system of issuing the tickets per head from the booths so that when the tickets are finished, we know the allotted capacity for the match has been exhausted. This will help prevent any problems,” he noted.
Ghana will open the Group E qualifier with Uganda on Saturday before playing West African neighbors Togo four days later. The seven Group winners, seven Group runners-up and the best third-placed side will qualify for the tournament.
The 30th edition of AFCON will be played from January 17 through to February 8, 2015, in Morocco.
Xhinua
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