NSA closes Accra and Cape Coast stadia for maintenance

The National Sports Authority (NSA) has closed down the Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Sports Stadium for maintenance, aiming to improve the facilities for upcoming international matches.

According to JoySports sources, the closure is part of efforts to upgrade the stadia to meet international standards.

This decision follows last week’s directive from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which prohibited the use of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for CAF/FIFA senior international matches due to the poor condition of the pitch.

CAF recommended the complete reconstruction of the playing surface at Baba Yara, but it appears the NSA is taking stop-gap measures to ensure that the venue can host the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier against Sudan in October.

In response to the Baba Yara situation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has directed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to engage CAF to inspect both the Accra Sports Stadium and the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon to determine if they are suitable for hosting the match.

The GFA has noted that while the Accra stadium is listed in CAF’s database, it still requires significant upgrades.

The Legon stadium, however, does not seem ready to be approved for the game.

On September 6, 2024, the GFA held discussions with the Sports Ministry and the NSA regarding the urgent need to fix the Cape Coast Sports Stadium following the Black Stars’ defeat to the Palancas Negras at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Currently, it appears Ghana might host Sudan in Cape Coast, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

However, should no venue in Ghana meet the necessary standards, the GFA has also considered the option of playing the game in Togo.