The Black Stars will now play their home matches outside Ghana, likely Nigeria. This follows the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) withdrawal of approval for the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
This decision was prompted after CAF’s inspection revealed the stadium failed to meet the standards required for hosting Category 3 international matches.
The assessment followed Ghana’s recent 1-0 defeat to Angola in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where CAF officials identified multiple issues with the facility, including a deteriorating playing surface, uneven patches, poor drainage and insufficient grass cover.
The state of the stadium had raised concerns even before the match, tasking CAF to recommend immediate upgrades.
With no other CAF-approved venues in Ghana—since both the Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Stadium also fell short of required standards, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is now tasked with finding an alternative venue for upcoming fixtures, including the crucial AFCON qualifiers against Sudan.
Out of the alternatives, the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, has emerged as the most likely alternative due to its proximity to Ghana.
Other options under consideration include the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny and Stade de la Paix in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon and the Berkane Municipal Stadium in Morocco, where Ghana has previously played.
CAF has urged the GFA to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Ghana’s major stadiums and engage experienced firms for the necessary renovations.
CAF has further offered to provide an international pitch consultant to assist with the renovations, with the GFA covering the costs.
Since early 2022, all of Ghana’s home matches have been hosted at the Baba Yara Stadium, which is now officially out of commission for international fixtures until further notice.
