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| Baba Yara Stadium |
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn its approval of the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi for Ghana’s upcoming home matches.
This has left the Ghana Football Association (GFA) scrambling to find an alternative venue outside the country.
Initially, CAF had conditionally approved the Baba Yara Stadium to host Ghana’s opening game against Angola in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers, played on Thursday, 5 September 2024.
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However, after reviewing the conditions observed during the Black Stars' match against the Palancas Negras, CAF rescinded its decision.
In a letter to the GFA, CAF emphasised that: “The stadium did not meet the required standards for hosting Category 3 international matches.”
The letter also reiterated previous concerns about the condition of the playing field and the stadium's facilities.
"It is important to note that, prior to the match, CAF had expressed concerns about the suitability of Baba Yara Sports Stadium for hosting top-tier international fixtures.
“Persistent issues at this venue, as well as others in Ghana, such as Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium, have also been noted," CAF further stated.
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The revocation leaves Ghana without a CAF-approved Category 3 stadium, forcing the GFA to find a suitable venue outside the country for the next round of the AFCON qualifiers.
Ghana’s next home game is slated for Friday, 11 October 2024, against Sudan, with a follow-up away fixture against the same team, now coached by former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah, scheduled four days later.
The Black Stars are yet to secure a victory in the qualifiers, having suffered a defeat to Angola and managed only a draw against Niger in their opening matches
