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The president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, last Friday held a joint meeting with Ghanaian and Egyptian diplomats to discuss issues ahead of the World Cup play-offs between the two countries on October 15. Egypt�s ambassador to Ghana, Mr Omar Selim and Ghana�s ambassador to Egypt Mr Said Sinare, visited the GFA headquarters in Accra to discuss issues related to safety and security ahead of the matches to be played in Kumasi and Cairo respectively. The Black Stars will host the Pharaohs on October 15, while the second leg is scheduled for November 19. Ghana and Egypt have a long-standing excellent relationship and the move by the GFA president to meet with the top diplomats is aimed at ensuring that the cordiality between the two countries is maintained before and after the match. Mr Nyantakyi told Ambassador Selim that the GFA and the government had secured places for, at least, 500 Egyptian fans expected at the Baba Yara Stadium and they would be confined to one place to ensure that they were fully protected during their visit to Kumasi. The football chief told the Egyptian ambassador that the Pharaohs would not be allowed to land directly in Kumasi by their chartered flight because the airport was not an international one, coupled with the fact that it was undergoing renovation. But the GFA, he said would ensure their smooth flight to Kumasi by a domestic flight from Accra. The three men also discussed issues of accommodation and tickets for visiting fans while the Egyptian diplomat assured Ghanaians of their safety in Cairo despite the security problems in the Egyptian capital. Mr Sinare disclosed that his office had already started preparation for the smooth arrival of the Ghana delegation expected in Cairo for the return leg while working with the Egyptian authorities to secure the safety of the players and visiting fans.