The Confederation of African Football is considering hosting the 2022 World Cup Play-offs for the ten qualified African countries in Qatar.
The venue for the playoffs which will determine the five African countries that will represent Africa at the 2022 World Cup will be decided on Friday when the African football governing body meets at the Extra-Ordinary General Assembly to determine the venue, date and draws as well as the format of the play-offs.
A South African publication, TimesLIVE, while quoting a source said the reason behind the decision was to curb the poor officiating following what happened in the match between Ghana and South Africa in their last group match in Ghana. He added that the format of playing on a home and away basis will be changed to a one-legged game where the winners pick the ticket for the Mundial.
“It has emerged that the CAF executive wants the games to be played as a one-off, instead of over two legs, and the idea is to play the games at a neutral venue rather than here (in Africa),” the website wrote on Wednesday.
“Qatar is the preferred venue because the World Cup will be played there next year anyway.
“This [suggestion] is intended to eliminate shenanigans and other underhand things that could happen when so much is at stake.
“So it is likely that these games will be played in a neutral venue.”
The playoffs are scheduled to hold between March 21-29, 2022.