The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn its approval of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, which was Ghana’s only remaining suitable venue for hosting international football matches.
In a letter to the Ghana Football Association, CAF expressed that “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.”
This follows Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier match against Angola on September 5, 2024, in Kumasi. CAF noted that despite its over 40,000 capacity, the stadium does not meet the standards of a Category 3 venue due to uneven surfaces and inadequate grass cover.
The African football governing body encouraged the GFA to “conduct a comprehensive assessment of all major international stadiums in Ghana to ensure they comply with CAF technical standards.”
The GFA will need to find a different stadium for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers. However, the FA has promised to work in collaboration with the government to restore the stadium to its best condition.