Sulley Muntari of Ghana scores a penalty kick during their 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match against Egypt at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt, trailing 6-1 from the first leg, have been cleared by FIFA to host the World Cup playoff return match against Ghana in Cairo despite safety concerns.
The Ghana FA had urged soccer's ruling body to find "a safe and secure venue" on neutral territory for the 19 November game following recent violence in the Egyptian capital.
However, FIFA on Wednesday confirmed Cairo as the venue after a visit by inspectors and a demand that Egypt provide security guarantees, it said in a letter to both countries released by the Ghana FA.
The winners of the playoff will qualify for next year's World Cup in Brazil.
FIFA said the Confederation of African Football's decision to stage the Champions League final at Cairo's Air Defence Stadium on 10 November shows the situation in Egypt is getting "back to normal".
Egypt will allow fans to watch both games after previously banishing big matches to a small stadium in El Gouna on the Red Sea coast and away from major urban areas.
The second leg of the African Champions League final is between Ahly of Egypt and the South African club Orlando Pirates and will follow the first match in Soweto on Saturday.
Egypt had earlier said the government has assured FIFA that Ghana's delegation will be safe in Cairo as it sought to defuse any security concerns ahead of the World Cup playoff second-leg.
The Black Stars' demand to relocate the match prompted FIFA to give Egypt until 28 October to provide security assurances.
"The Egyptian Football Association's chief executive Tharwat Sweilam has sent to FIFA the government's pledge to secure the Ghanaian delegation during its stay in Egypt," the EFA said in a brief statement on its website.
"Another letter from the EFA was sent to FIFA to stress that a coherent security plan is in place," he added.
Egypt are highly unlikely to end their 24-year World Cup absence after they were hammered 6-1 by Ghana in Kumasi in the first leg. The second leg will be played at the army-owned Air Defence Stadium in Cairo.
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