Somalia have accused Ghana of intimidation following an incident in which security officials reportedly stopped their national team from using the main training pitch ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Black Stars.
The incident has sparked controversy ahead of the crucial qualifying encounter, with the Somali delegation reportedly unhappy about the manner in which their training session was interrupted.
According to reports, security officials intervened when the Somali team attempted to train on the main playing field, leading to accusations of intimidation from the visiting side.
However, stadium officials have rejected any suggestion of deliberate intimidation, explaining that Somalia had only been granted permission to use a separate training pitch and not the main field.
They insist the team was simply directed to the venue officially approved for their training session and that the intervention was necessary to ensure compliance with the established arrangements.
The stadium authorities maintain that there was no intention to disadvantage or intimidate the visiting delegation, stressing that the issue arose from the team’s attempt to use a facility they had not been authorised to access.
The development comes at a sensitive time as both countries prepare for their AFCON 2027 qualifying fixture, with attention now turning to how the disagreement will be resolved.
Ghana will be hoping to maintain focus on preparations for the encounter, while Somalia will be seeking to put the incident behind them and concentrate on their upcoming assignment against the Black Stars.
