Ghana’s AFCON Group C opponents, South Africa has threatened to withdraw from the upcoming 2021 qualifiers against the Black Stars if the game is shifted from their country.
Ghana Football Association (GFA) recently wrote to CAF to shift the match to a neutral venue amid fears of the Covid-19 spike in South Africa.
But the South African Football Association (SAFA) has told the African football governing body, CAF that it will not host the AFCON qualifier against Ghana on a neutral ground.
SAFA insisted it will not participate in any match outside its jurisdiction even though CAF earlier cancelled Champions League matches involving both Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa.
“Following the resumption of football in the country for both international and domestic activities, we have never had a surge in the number of infections due to the strict health protocols in place that are in line with CAF COVID-19 health protocols.
“All our clubs/national teams will not use neutral venues, as there are no substantial health reasons to do so. We request that CAF should provide us with any breach of their COVID-19 health protocols by both Clubs and National Teams. We request that CAF provide us with any research conducted regarding our COVID-19 situation in South Africa that would warrant alternatives at this stage as all countries have COVID-19 cases with Morocco being second on the continent behind South Africa. Having hosted Sao Tome in an AFCON qualifier and a number of matches in the CAF championships without any health-related incidences, we urge CAF to apply rules and regulations where clubs or countries do not want to travel to South Africa or to allow South Africa in their countries. Those clubs and countries must forfeit the matches in line with the CAF Regulations,” SAFA wrote.
CAF is yet to respond to the statement by the South African Football Association.