Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah, has voiced his concern over the possibility of Ghana playing its home games at neutral venues, calling it a national embarrassment.
In a post on X, the legendary midfielder expressed that unless it’s for major tournaments, there should be no reason for Ghana to play its home fixtures outside the country.
He urged football authorities to prioritise maintaining the nation’s football pride by ensuring that the Black Stars always have a proper home ground to defend.
Appiah stressed the importance of upholding Ghana’s reputation in the global football arena, emphasising that playing home games at neutral venues undermines the country’s football heritage and pride.
“Playing a qualifier outside Ghana, except in a tournament, is a national embarrassment. We must prioritise hosting our own games and protect our football pride,” he wrote.
The Black Stars are at risk of playing their remaining home games in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at a neutral venue after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) withdrew its approval of Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Baba Yara Stadium was the only standardised venue in Ghana to host international matches, but the pitch and other facilities have deteriorated, causing CAF’s disapproval.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars are now without a win in two games in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, losing 1-0 to Angola in Kumasi before a 1-1 draw against Niger in Morocco.
Angola leads the group with 6 points, followed by Sudan with 3, while Ghana and Niger are both tied with a point each at the bottom.