Ghana coach Charles Akonnor wants FIFA and CAF to change their approach on the release of players for important qualifying matches during the coronavirus pandemic claiming it is unfairly and negatively affecting some countries.
The Black Stars boss is unhappy with the current situation where players who are from coronavirus red-list countries or travel to red-list countries can be denied the chance to travel to represent their nations by European teams.
The rule was put forward by FIFA which has given the European clubs the right not to release players to play for their countries or play in countries that are red-listed.
The former international midfielder says to level the playing field for all, FIFA or CAF must consider playing matches at neutral venues if the matches would be played in coronavirus red-list nations.
Ghana will be without six key players from England and Germany for the South Africa game due to quarantine regulations in the aforementioned countries as players must quarantine for up to 10 days on return to their respective clubs.
Coach Akonnor will be missing the services of Jordan Ayew, Daniel Amartey, Andy Yiadom, Baba Rahman, Jeffrey Schlupp, Daniel Kofi Kyereh, Branden Manu due to South Africa on the UK and Germany’s COVID-19 list.
Despite FIFA and CAF’s plea to European clubs on releasing players for the international break, Coach Akonnor has urged the football governing bodies to do more for national team coaches to have players during the period or consider changing match venues.
“The whole issue has been a problem, not just me but other national team coaches across the World. Today, you have a plan, tomorrow you wake up and a player has COVID-19 and he cannot join the team. Others are not allowed to join the team for the same reason.
“I don’t know if CAF and FIFA are handling the situation well because one may ask, can’t we play somewhere else if we cannot bring our players here. There are so many questions to answer and it’s not making us comfortable. It’s so difficult.
“We come under severe pressure from our Nation, we have to win at all cost yet this COVID-19 issue has become a major setback and I don’t know if CAF and FIFA are handling the situation very well.”
The Black Stars play their second game in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers against South Africa on Monday at the FnB Stadium.