Ghana challenges CAF over FIFA-standard pitch claims; requests assessment of Accra, Cape Coast stadia

 

The Ghanaian government has vehemently denied claims by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that the country lacks FIFA-standard pitches to host international matches.

The rebuttal comes in response to CAF’s recent ban on the Baba Yara Stadium, the only approved venue for Ghana’s Black Stars matches, due to its failure to meet required standards. This has left Ghana scrambling to find a suitable venue for their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sudan.

With reports suggesting that Ghana may have to play the match outside the country, potentially in Ivory Coast, the Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, has challenged CAF’s assertion. He insists that Ghana has several FIFA-standard pitches, including those in Cape Coast, Accra, and Kumasi.

Ussif explained that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has already requested CAF to inspect both the Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Sports Stadium, but is yet to receive a response.

The Sports Ministry remains hopeful that CAF will approve one of these local venues, avoiding the need for Ghana to host the match in a neighboring country.

“It’s not that we don’t have FIFA-standard pitches in Ghana; we do have FIFA-standard pitches in Cape Coast, Accra, and Kumasi,” Ussif said while addressing Parliament’s Sports Select Committee on Tuesday, September 24.

“We have written to CAF requesting an inspection of the Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Sports Stadium, and they have yet to respond,” Ussif added.

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