Guinea set to host CAF matches again as stadiums near approval amid South Africa travel concerns

Guinea is on course to host official CAF matches on home soil once again, with a government official confirming that the country’s stadiums are expected to be ready by August 2026.

The announcement comes just days after reports emerged that the Guinean Football Federation (FGF) had raised concerns with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over travelling to South Africa for a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixture.

According to reports, the FGF wrote to CAF expressing fears over the safety of its players and officials following recent xenophobic incidents in South Africa.

The federation is said to have referenced anti-illegal immigration protests held on June 30, during which demonstrators called for the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

Guinea have been drawn in Group D of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers alongside South Africa, Eritrea and co-hosts Kenya.

While CAF has confirmed that the qualification campaign will run from September 2026 to March 2027, the official match schedule is yet to be released.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the away fixture in South Africa, Guinea have received a major boost regarding their home matches.

Mamadou Aliou Sory Barry, an official at Guinea’s Ministry of Sport, has announced that the country’s stadium infrastructure is nearing completion and will soon meet CAF requirements.

“By August 2026, we will have our stadiums,” Barry told Tele24.

He further revealed that the September 28 Stadium in Conakry has successfully passed several stages of the CAF inspection and certification process as renovation works continue.

The development is expected to end Guinea’s long wait to host competitive international matches at home. In recent years, the national team has been forced to stage its home fixtures in neutral countries due to the lack of CAF-approved stadiums.

Guinea head coach Paulo Duarte had previously stressed the importance of playing home matches in front of local supporters, saying in May that securing CAF-approved venues would be a significant advantage for the national team ahead of the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.

If the stadiums receive final approval as anticipated, Guinea could return to hosting competitive CAF fixtures for the first time in several years, providing a timely boost as they prepare for a crucial qualification campaign.