The Black Stars of Ghana will play the remainder of their home matches for any FIFA or CAF competitions, including the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, abroad after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) withdrew its approval for Ghana’s sole stadium, Baba Yara Stadium, which was deemed unfit to host Category 3 international matches.
CAF stated that they withdrew the approval due to technical infractions, including an unsuitable playing field.
The decision follows Ghana’s match against Angola at Baba Yara Stadium, which raised concerns about the poor condition of the pitch. CAF then inspected the stadium and identified several issues, including a playing field that was deemed unfit for competitive matches. The field had deteriorated significantly, with uneven surfaces, poor drainage, and insufficient grass cover.
CAF officials expressed disappointment with the condition of the stadium, urging Ghanaian authorities to invest in upgrades to bring the facility up to international standards.
In a letter to the GFA after the inspection, CAF reiterated concerns about the suitability of Ghana’s key stadiums, including Baba Yara, Cape Coast, and Accra Sports Stadiums, for hosting top-tier international matches due to ongoing issues.
“It is important to note that, prior to the match, CAF had expressed concerns about the suitability of Baba Yara Sports Stadium for hosting top-tier international fixtures. Persistent issues at this venue, as well as others in Ghana, such as Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium, have also been noted,” CAF said in the statement.
With no other CAF-approved Category 3 stadiums available in Ghana, CAF also asked the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to choose an alternative venue from CAF-approved options outside the country for Matchday 3 and 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifiers.
CAF’s letter recommended that the relevant authorities “conduct a thorough assessment of all major international stadiums in Ghana to ensure compliance with CAF technical standards.” Additionally, CAF advised stadium management to immediately hire experienced companies to undertake the necessary renovations to meet CAF/FIFA requirements.
CAF expressed its willingness to support Ghana, through the GFA, in upgrading its stadiums to meet the standards required for hosting CAF/FIFA international matches. They offered to provide an international pitch consultant experienced in major competitions, including AFCON, to guide the improvements, with the GFA covering the costs.
CAF further noted that once the required renovations are completed, it would conduct an independent inspection, at the request and expense of the GFA, to reassess the stadium’s suitability for hosting future matches.
After spending $34 million to renovate the University of Ghana stadium, it still doesn’t meet FIFA/CAF standards for hosting international matches. However, the Ghana Football Association has pledged to collaborate with the government to address the issues and restore the Baba Yara Stadium to its former standard.
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Story by: Gabriel Tecco Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
