12/9/2024
The Black Stars of Ghana are likely to use either the Accra or University of Ghana Sports Stadium to host their next home match in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after the Ministry of Youth and Sports ‘directed’ the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to seek CAF’s approval for the two venues.
The directive came as a result of the ban placed on the Baba Yara Sports Stadium which hosted the qualifying fixture between Ghana and Angola last Thursday, September 5, 2024.
Accra Sports Stadium
The venue, which was later banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has been declared unfit for international matches due to “unsuitable playing field.”
Ghana was considering hosting their next game against Suda on a foreign soil in October.
However, the Accra and UG sports venues have been recommended by the Sports Ministry stating that “most issues have been resolved” and that the GFA must contact CAF for inspection and possible approval.
University of Ghana Sports Stadium
“The Minister has further instructed the Ghana Football Association to immediately request CAF to inspect the Accra Sports Stadium and the newly-built University of Ghana stadium, for approval as Category 3 match venues, for use by the Black Stars in its next international match in October,” the statement read.
“Most issues identified by CAF at the Accra Sports Stadium during a previous inspection has been resolved; while the University of Ghana Stadium has already hosted CAF Category 2 matches, but the stadium, since inauguration, is yet to be inspected by CAF’s independent inspectors for consideration as a suitable category 3 match venue, in accordance with CAF’s Stadium Regulations,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the National Sports Authority has been directed by the Sports Ministry to “take steps to resolve issues with the pitch” at the Baba Yara Stadium.
By: Maxwell Woyram Tsigbe