The Ghanians are confident that the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi would bring them good luck when they face the Super Eagles on the 25th of March.
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium ,on Wednesday was chosen as the venue for the first leg of the FIFA World qualifying playoff between the Black Stars and the Super Eagles.
There are various records of matches been played between the national teams dating back to 1938, but for the Ghananians, The 1955 Jalco Cup meeting stands out as they recorded their biggest win against Nigeria.
The Black Stars trashed Nigeria 7-0 and Baba Yara reportedly scored four of the goals and assisted other three at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
Who is Baba Yara? :
Born October 12, 1936 in a small town Kintampo in Kumasi, Ghana, to the family Mr Seidu Maada and Madam Amina Ibrahim.
Baba Yara was named after his grand father and his real name is Usmanu Seidu Maada .
His career :
Baba Yara is regarded as one of the Country’s greatest of all time . He made his debut for the Ghana Black Stars in 1955 and was part of team that won African Cup of Nations in 1963.
Baba Yara earned 55 caps for the Black Star and scored 12 goals in return.
Between 1954-1963, he played 421 matches for his team Kumasi Asante Kotoko and scored 74 goals, before signing for Real Republican, where he played 74 matches and scored 12 times .
His Death :
At 26, he was already a legend at the National team and Club level, however Baba Yara’s career was truncated by a tragic injury that would eventually end his life at 39.
He was involved in an autocrash while travelling back to Accra with his team, Real Republicans after he match.
He sustained a spinal cord injury and later got paralyzed. After undergoing series of unsuccessful surgery in United Kingdom, Baba Yara later return to Ghana where he gave up the ghost.
Honour :
After his death on the fifth of May 1969 the Ghananians believes they haven’t seen a player like him . He’s said to be the greatest football ever born in Kumasi and in 2005, the Kumasi Stadium where he scored four goals against Nigeria was renamed as Baba Yara Stadium in his honor .
Incredible results at the Baba Yara Stadium :
The Stadium has brought many good memories for the senior national and the people believes his spirit is always cheering the team.
Many also believe he is the 12th man for the Black Stars whenever they are playing in Kumasi.
The last World Cup playoffs at the venue was against Egypt in 2014. Ghana destroyed the Pharaohs 6-1 and qualified over two legs to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
In 2012, they thrashed Lesotho 7-0 at the same venue.
Ghana will play Nigeria in the 1st leg on Friday, March 25, 2022 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi and the people are waiting for another great memory.
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