2022 World Cup: Akufo Addo off to Qatar to watch Ghana v Portugal opener

President Akufo Addo has left the country for Qatar ahead of Ghana's opening match against Portugal on Thursday.

Ghana will face the European side in their Group H opener at the 974 Stadium with kick-off scheduled at 16:00GMT.

The President is anticipated to address the technical staff and the playing body and inspire them before the game.

Ghana will also take on South Korea and Uruguay in their subsequent games.

Soccer fans are looking forward to a revenge performance at least against the South American side.

The two-time world champions denied the Black Stars progression to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as a result of a deliberate goal-line handball clearance by Luis Suarez.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese Parliament has granted permission to the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to go to Qatar on Thursday to watch the national men's football team's opening World Cup match against the Black Stars of Ghana.

The other leaders of the country also received approval from parliament to go to Qatar to attend their next group matches of the competition being held in the Middle Eastern country.

The Prime Minister will also go to see the nation's final group match, while the Speaker of Parliament will see the nation's second group game.

Portugal's constitution states that the President of the Republic is not permitted to leave the country's borders without the approval of the Republic's Parliament.

This led the current administration to submit the draft resolution to the Speaker of the Republic's Parliament, who then submitted it to the vote of the members.

This was unanimously authorized, with votes in favor of the journey ensuring that President Marcelo would attend his team's first Group H encounter against the Black Stars.

The political groups' PS, PSD, and PCP voted in large numbers to support, while Chega abstained, with the Liberal Initiative, Left Bloc, PAN, and Livre voting against, but the leader was able to secure his trip to Qatar.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa asked legislative permission to leave the country between November 23 and 25 to attend the national team's opening match in Qatar.