The Ministry of Youth and Sports has instructed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to immediately request the inspection of the Accra Sports Stadium and the University of Ghana Complex by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to be used as football match venues.
This move aims to secure approval for the two venues as CAF Category 3 match venues, following the ban against the use of the Baba Yara Stadium for football activities due to the pitch.
The ministry’s directive comes after CAF indicated that the Baba Yara Stadium is unfit to host international matches.
This decision resulted from a series of technical infractions observed during the recent Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying match between Ghana and Angola held on September 5, 2024.
The primary concern raised by CAF inspectors is the subpar condition of the playing field.
The stadium, which boasts a capacity of over 40,000 spectators, witnessed significant deterioration of its pitch, including uneven surfaces, poor drainage, and inadequate grass cover.
These shortcomings prevent the stadium from meeting the required standards for hosting Category 3 international matches as per CAF regulations.
With the Baba Yara Stadium currently closed for renovations, and the next international match for the Black Stars coming off in October, alternative venues are needed to host the match.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Accra Sports Stadium has addressed most of the issues previously identified by CAF, hence the call for an inspection of the stadium while the University of Ghana stadium has hosted CAF Category 2 matches but requires inspection for consideration as a Category 3 match venue.
The GFA is expected to swiftly request CAF’s independent inspectors to assess the two stadiums, ensuring Ghana has suitable venues for upcoming international matches.
