September 11, (THEWILL) – The Ghana national football team is likely to play their remaining 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Nigeria.
This comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned the Baba Yara Stadium, Ghana’s only venue approved for CAF and FIFA matches.
CAF inspectors identified several issues at the Baba Yara Stadium, including an unsuitable playing field with uneven surfaces, poor drainage, and inadequate grass cover. Similar problems at other Ghanaian stadiums, such as Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium, have led CAF to request that Ghana select an alternative venue outside the country for the October qualifiers.
The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, appears to be the most probable option due to its proximity to Ghana. Other potential venues include the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny, the Stade de la Paix in Côte d’Ivoire, the Japoma Stadium in Cameroon, and the Berkane Municipal Stadium in Morocco.
Ghana is expected to inform CAF of their decision in the coming days. The team is scheduled to face Sudan in a doubleheader for Match days 3 and 4 of the AFCON qualifying games.
This situation highlights the importance of maintaining high-quality football infrastructure to meet international standards. It also underscores the need for Ghana to address its stadium issues promptly to avoid future complications in hosting international matches.
