The lawn conditions at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit became a subject of debate ahead of the last Group D match of CAN 2013. Togo, after a reconnaissance of the field, expressed dissatisfaction with the pitch. More significantly, the Tunisian team went a step further by sending a letter to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) requesting a venue change for their upcoming match due to the poor state of the lawn.
Tunisian officials cited concerns about the pitch not being suitable for a match of this level, especially for a team with technical players who may struggle to showcase their talent on such a surface. While the controversy escalated, it was noted that changing the venue might prove challenging as the competition had already begun at Mbombela Stadium.
The debate over the playing conditions added an extra layer of complexity to the tournament, raising questions about the infrastructure and maintenance standards at certain venues. Despite the concerns, the fate of the upcoming matches at Mbombela Stadium remained uncertain, awaiting decisions from the authorities involved.
