Ghana will be hoping CAF’s statement to the British government to allow African players travel to their respective countries for the World Cup qualifiers will be granted.
The continent’s football governing body wrote to the British government to lift the quarantine requirements for players returning from their respective countries for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Players that are returning from countries that are on the UK red list must quarantine for up to 10 days, a move that has seen the Premier League clubs block players from joining their respective national teams.
Black Stars coach CK Akonnor whose list of invited players has six players from clubs in the United Kingdom could be without Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Baba Rahaman (Chelsea), Andy Yiadom (Reading), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Thomas Partey (Arsenal) and Tariq Fosu (Brentford).
These players will not be able to travel to South Africa for the second game on September 6 in Johannesburg, which is on the red list of the UK.
In the statement from CAF, the British government should exempt African players traveling during the international break just like it did for officials and delegations during the Euro 2020 Championship some few months ago.
“CAF has noted the current circumstances in place in Britain regarding the lack of sporting exemptions for players returning from several African countries after the international window next week.
“CAF, acting on behalf of all African Member Associations, African players and fans, has urged the British Government to urgently provide the required exemptions to enable African players to compete for their countries in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™️ qualifiers.
“CAF notes that similar exemptions were granted by the British Government to enable the attendance of delegations and officials, amongst others, at the finals of the European Championship held less than two months ago”
In light of the above, CAF has appealed as a matter of urgency, to the Football Association (FA) and the British Government that the same treatment previously applied to Europe now be extended to Africa under the principles of solidarity and equal treatment”
Ghana coach Akonnor will be hoping to have all his players for the South Africa game in Johannesburg, which is a country on the red list of Britain on September 6.
The Black Stars will begin their 2022 World Cup campaign against Ethiopia on September 3, 2021 at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.