Ahead of the clash between Ghana and Zimbabwe in the 2022 World Cup Qualifier to be played on October 9, there appear to be a seeming clash between the Ghana Football Association and the National Sports Authority over who controls the accreditation process.

While FIFA authorizes the Ghana FA to handle the accreditation process, the NSA has already started the process, inviting applicants to table their applications.

The NSA’s application process opened a few hours after the Ghana FA had announced applicants should send their applications to the association to be accredited to cover the game.

This has thrown several media houses in a state of uncertainty as to who to deal with to secure accreditation for the game.

FIFA, however, in Article 26, clause 2 of their statutes on the operations of the media have unequivocally stated that the accreditation process must be handled by the football association.

It states: The association’s media officers shall coordinate media accreditation requests and ensure that all accreditation requests come from bona fide media representatives. Priority shall be given to media representatives from the countries of the two teams playing. Space permitting, access shall be given to international media representatives from any country. In close cooperation with the relevant host association, FIFA is entitled to establish the terms and conditions applicable to the accreditation provided to media representatives at all matches.

With this, FIFA has position on the media accreditation process and who handles it is clear but the situation has always been handled by the National Sports Authority during national team games, especially the Black Stars.

Following this seeming confusion, media house are keenly expecting the two bodies to reach an amicable conclusion and roll out a clear road map for the accreditation process.

The NSA is, therefore, expected to drop their application process to allow the Ghana FA to handle the process as stipulated while they regulate it as owners of the playing facility.

With the crucial nature of the game, Ghanaians will least expect such a tensed atmosphere between the two bodies which can derail the dream of the team.

Ghana’s double header with Zimbabwe comes at a crucial time when the country has a new coach and must win both game to re-live their dream of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

The Black Stars of Ghana had their dream jilted after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to South Africa in Johannesburg in their second group game after earlier winning 1-0 over Ethiopia in Cape Coast.

Ghana are now second on the group behind South Africa who have 4 points from two games.