The Ghana Football Association, GFA has opened up on why the Black Stars list for the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria has been delayed.
With less than two weeks to the crucial World Cup playoff Ghana is yet to announce her squad for the tie.
According to the GFA Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, social media abuse is one of the reasons why the Black Stars squad has not been released yet.
READ ALSO: Unlike some people our Stadium is ready - Nigeria's Daniel Amokachi takes swipe at Ghana
Speaking in an interview he added that the delay in announcing the Black Stars list is a technical decision backed by management
“It is a technical decision backed by management, and it is a well-thought-out and purely strategic move, he told Ghanaian Times.
“They felt it’s a way of controlling or minimising the abuse that normally takes place before games, especially on social media. Sometimes, the public abuse gets to the players and affects their mentality,”
“I know the players and their clubs have been informed and the coaches are in talks with the individual players as we speak.
“Coaches can choose not to go public at all and it’s within their right to do so.”
Unlike Ghana, Nigeria released their 25-man squad for the tie on March 4 with the likes of Leicester City's Ademola Lookman Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen all included in the list.
Ghana will play host to Nigeria on March 25, 2022, before the reverse fixture at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on March 29, 2022 with the winner of both legs securing qualification to the biggest soccer Mundial in Qatar.