The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially disapproved the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, for hosting category 3 international matches due to technical infractions. The decision follows Ghana’s recent AFCON qualifier against Angola, where the stadium’s conditions were deemed inadequate to meet CAF’s standards.
The CAF inspection team identified several issues with the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, including:
Field quality: The playing surface was deemed to be below the required standards for international matches.
Infrastructure: The stadium’s infrastructure, including lighting and seating, was found to be lacking in certain areas.
The disapproval means that the Baba Yara Sports Stadium will be unable to host any CAF-sanctioned matches until the necessary improvements are made.
The NSA in the mean time have closed down the stadium for maintenance and acknowledge the need to improve the facilities at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. They have committed to taking immediate steps to rectify the identified shortcomings and ensure that the stadium meets CAF’s standards.
The disapproval of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium has significant implications for Ghanaian football. It will force the country to find alternative venues for international matches, which could impact ticket sales and revenue. Additionally, it could also affect Ghana’s chances of hosting future CAF competitions.
Ghana will have to look for approved CAF games for games against Sudan in the AFCON qualifiers.
