The Black Stars are at risk of playing their remaining home games in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at a neutral venue.
This follows the Confederation of African Football (CAF) withdrawing its approval of Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Baba Yara Stadium was the only standardized venue in Ghana to host international matches, but the pitch and other facilities at the stadium have deteriorated, causing CAF’s disapproval.
CAF granted Ghana temporary permission to host Angola at Baba Yara, demanding improvement of the pitch, floodlights, dressing rooms, venue operation centre (VOC), washrooms, safe zone, and stadium sound systems (speakers) before the next home game or risk playing at a neutral venue.
The National Sports Authority has closed down the stadium after Ghana’s game against Angola to begin renovations in an attempt to get it back to the required standard before Ghana’s next home game.
Ghana has two home games left in the qualifiers against Sudan and Niger. They will face Sudan in October 2024 before hosting Niger in November 2024.
If the Baba Yara Stadium is not available in time, here are four venues where Ghana could play their remaining home games:
TNA Stadium
The newly constructed Tarkwa-Na-Aboso (TNA) stadium, the home venue for Ghana Premier League side Medeama, has been highly considered.
Reports indicate that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is planning on submitting the stadium to CAF for approval.
The TNA stadium is a modern 12,000-seater-capacity stadium constructed by Goldfields Ghana, the headline sponsor of Medeama.
The stadium was commissioned in August and hosted its first competitive fixture on September 8, 2024, when Medeama beat Accra Lions 1-0 to kick-start their season.
Godswill Akpabio Stadium
The Godswill Akpabio Stadium is one of Nigeria’s national stadiums located in Uyo.
The 30,000-capacity venue could be one of the neutral venues for Ghana if CAF disapproves all venues submitted by the GFA.
The University of Ghana Stadium
The University of Ghana Stadium has also been considered as a potential venue to host the Black Stars’ games.
The venue underwent renovations for the 13th African Games hosted in Ghana and was the main centre for the Games, hosting the athletic events as well as some football games.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS), in a statement released on Thursday, September 12, 2024, directed the GFA to submit the venue for consideration.
Accra Sports Stadium
The Accra Sports Stadium is one of Ghana’s most used national stadiums located in Accra.
The venue has not hosted any competitive Black Stars game since Ghana’s 3-1 win over Sao Tome and Principe in 2021.
The venue has been deemed unfit for CAF Category 3 games; however, the MOYS in its statement cited that all concerns have been resolved.
Therefore, it has been suggested to the GFA to submit the venue along with the University of Ghana Stadium to CAF for consideration.
Source: Ghanaweb
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