Next month will be busy for the Black Stars as they try to revive the campaign in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The team have a point from two matches as qualifying for the global showpiece in Russia next year looks like a needle in a haystack.

Ghana has two matches against Congo with the first leg fixed for 1^st September  (Friday) at the Baba Yara stadium.

It will not be the first time the Black Stars will play on a working day as the opening game in the qualifier (0-0 with Uganda) and several other matches have been honored not on a weekend but fans appear not to be pleased and have raised concerns about the choice.

However, Ghana Football Association spokesperson, Ibrahim Saanie, in an exclusive interview with Joy Sports explained why the technical team opted for friday.

“You will want to expect that normally as it is the norm in Ghana you will play your matches at the weekend that is where you can generate maximum number of fans to come to the match. So definitely playing on a Friday causes an uncomfortable situation in terms of giving all Ghanaians the opportunity to be able to watch the game particularly those in Kumasi who will be at work by then. Understandably it is because of the television schedule and also the football calendar is very tight.’’

‘’You also know that just three days later we will have to travel to Congo to play them in Brazzaville that tells you that the calendar is tight and also television they want to put as many matches as possible on television so they too will have to squeeze on the rest and if you go for an option of playing on a Saturday or a Sunday, you are mandated to play your return game which means that you have about two days to go.’’’

‘’If something happens to your travel plans, you are messed. Remember the last time we played Zambia in the World Cup qualifier when they played here. You know that they arrived really late for the game, they did not plan well so given the difficulties in terms of television and also in terms of the tightness of the calendar, I think it is for the best of it.”  

Black Stars must pick up full spoils in the double header against Congo or forget about making a fourth successive appearance at the World Cup.