Baba Yara’s Condition Costs Ghana Int’l Match Hosting Right

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn the approval for the 40,000-capacity Baba Yara Sports Stadium to host any Category 3 International Match.

This decision was contained in a letter to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and publicly communicated by the FA on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn its approval for the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, due to technical infractions, including an unsuitable playing field.”

The decision comes after observations by CAF during the recent Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying match between Ghana and Angola, which was played at the Stadium on September 5, 2024.

The CAF team expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the stadium as it identified several issues, including a playing field that was deemed unsuitable for competitive matches.

“The stadium’s playing field had deteriorated significantly, with uneven surfaces, poor drainage, and inadequate grass cover.”

Recommendation
It directed Ghanaian authorities to invest in upgrading the facility to meet international standards.

The letter from CAF recommended that the relevant authorities “conduct a comprehensive assessment of all major international stadiums in Ghana to ensure they comply with CAF technical standards”.

Additionally, CAF advised that the stadium management engage experienced companies immediately to undertake the necessary refurbishment to meet CAF/FIFA standards.

The African football governing body also expressed its commitment to supporting Ghana in bringing its stadiums up to the required standards for hosting CAF/FIFA senior international matches, offering to assist by providing an international pitch consultant with experience in major international competitions, including AFCON, to offer additional expert guidance on the necessary improvements. The cost of this support would be borne by the GFA.

CAF went on to indicate that once the needed renovation works were completed, it would, at the GFA’s request and expense, conduct an independent inspection to reassess the stadium’s suitability for future matches.

Implication
This decision means that Ghana will not be able to host her subsequent qualifiers at home.

The Ghanaian authorities will need to select a venue outside home for their next AFCON qualifier scheduled for October.

The Black Stars will face Sudan in their next game.

Concerns
The state of the pitch was a major concern to many stakeholders before and during the game against Angola.

The head coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo and the head coach of the opponent both let out their concerns.

“A country like Ghana deserves a better pitch,” Goncalves said after the game.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini