Black Stars in danger as FIFA ban looms on AFCON qualifier against Kenya

Ghana will fail to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations as they are in danger of forfeiting next month's qualifier against Kenya because of a looming FIFA ban.

With just two weeks before the FIFA deadline expires, government's failure to discontinue the court action to dissolve the Ghana FA will result in a ban from international football.

If government fails to withdraw the case by Monday, 27 August, the Black Stars Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya in Nairobi on 7 September will be awarded to the Harambee Stars.

The Black Stars and Kenya clash is scheduled to take place in Nairobi on 8 September and with the match supposed to take place just 12 days after the deadline the danger for Ghana is real.

Failing to play the match will result in Ghana losing subsequent matches which means the Black Stars will not qualify for the tournament to be held in Cameroon in June 2019.

The Black Stars are tipped as one of the favourites for the competition with President Nana Akufo Addo keen on helping the team to lift the trophy to end the 37 title drought.

An inflexible action could prove counter-productive for the ruling NPP party as failure to qualify will be a huge political tool by be used by the opposition NDC in the general election in 2020.

FIFA warned the Ghana government on Monday to withdraw the court action seeking to dissolve the Ghana Football Association by 27 August, 2018 or face its wrath.

The court action is deemed to be government interference in the sport as the laws of FIFA prohibit governments from interfering in the activities of football federations.

Football in the country came to a halt in June after an Accra High Court granted an application by the Attorney General to enable government dissolve the local football governing body.

The Attorney General headed following an explosive revelation by investigative journalist Anas Armeyaw Anas where some officials and referees were caught on tape taking bribes.