Escape through World cup: 200 Ghana fans seek asylum in Brazil

About 200 Ghanaian soccer fans have asked for asylum in Brazil after failing to return to their country after their elimination from the World Cup.

The Federal Police in the city of Caxias do Sul confirmed that over the period of seven days,the fans had been trickling in with their requests.

The head of the police in the city,Noerci da Silva Melo said the Ministry of Justice will consider the applications of the ghanaians,success of which would mean permission to work and legally travel within the country.

Sao Paulo seems to be the prefered destination of the asylum seeking destination with da Silva Melo confirming that about 150 of the asylum seekers had already left for the largest city in the country where employment is easy to find.

Melo said the Ghanaians said they were Muslims who were "fleeing the violent conflicts between different Muslim groups."

Vanessa Perini Moojen of the Roman Catholic Church's Migrant Support Center said the asylum-seekers "faced life-threatening situations back home." She would not elaborate.

"They feel they can find work and better living conditions in Brazil," she added.

The center provided temporary shelter for the Ghanaians at the city's seminary and helped them prepare their asylum requests.

Allsports.com.gh earlier reported that almost 240 fans failed to return on the chartered flight that was procured for their trips to support the national team during the World Cup.