Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, has been dealt a significant blow as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revoked the approval of the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, the only stadium in the country that met international standards. This decision means that Ghana will be forced to play their next home match in the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco at a neutral venue.
CAF’s decision follows the events of September 5, when Ghana faced Angola in a crucial AFCON qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium.
The match ended in a 1-0 defeat for the Black Stars, sparking acts of vandalism that further exacerbated the stadium’s already deteriorating condition.
The aftermath led CAF to conclude that the stadium no longer met the necessary requirements to host international fixtures.
“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn its approval for the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, due to technical violations, including an unsuitable pitch,” announced the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The GFA noted that CAF had previously expressed concerns about the stadium’s condition, which had worsened over time.
CAF’s inspection team highlighted several critical issues during their review, particularly the poor state of the playing surface.
The pitch was found to be uneven, with poor drainage and inadequate grass cover, rendering it unfit for competitive matches.
These deficiencies, combined with the recent damage caused by vandalism, led to the stadium’s suspension from hosting further international games.
As a result, the Black Stars will now have to play their upcoming home fixture against Sudan on October 7, as part of the third round of qualifiers, at an alternative location.
The suspension does not affect the away match against Sudan, but Ghana will need to find a suitable venue outside the country for their home game.
Potential options include neighboring Ivory Coast, which boasts six CAF-approved stadiums, or South Africa, which has 11 approved venues.
The GFA remains hopeful that, if CAF’s recommendations are promptly addressed, the Baba Yara Stadium might be restored in time to host Ghana’s final group stage match against Niger on November 19.
However, this will depend on significant and immediate improvements to the stadium’s facilities.
This development puts additional pressure on Ghana as they continue their campaign to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The loss of their home ground advantage is a setback that could influence their performance in the remaining matches of the qualifiers.
🚨 Official: CAF withdraws approval of Baba Yara Stadium, Ghana’s only remaining suitable venue for hosting international football matches “due to technical infractions, including an unsuitable playing field.”
Next official matches will be played OUTSIDE the country. 🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/FJ6Q1cHpIQ
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) September 11, 2024
