The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revoked its certification of the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, citing technical deficiencies, notably the poor condition of the pitch.
This decision follows CAF’s assessment of the venue after Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola, held on September 5, 2024. The inspection revealed that the stadium no longer meets the standards required to host Category 3 international fixtures.
CAF’s inspection team pointed to several issues with the playing surface, highlighting severe deterioration, uneven patches, poor drainage, and insufficient grass coverage, making it unsuitable for competitive matches.
Historically, the Baba Yara Stadium has accommodated many significant events, including World Cup qualifiers and AFCON matches, with its capacity to seat over 40,000 spectators.
CAF officials expressed disappointment at the venue’s current state, urging Ghanaian authorities to allocate resources for the necessary upgrades.
In a letter, the governing body also emphasised that previous warnings regarding the pitch’s condition had gone unanswered.
“It is important to note that, prior to the match, CAF had expressed concerns about the suitability of Baba Yara Sports Stadium for hosting top-tier international fixtures. Persistent issues at this venue, as well as others in Ghana, such as Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium, have also been noted.”
Given the absence of any other CAF-approved Category 3 stadiums in Ghana, CAF has requested the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to select an alternative venue from among those approved by CAF outside Ghana for Matchday 3 and 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifiers.
The letter from CAF also recommended that the relevant authorities “conduct a comprehensive assessment of all major international stadiums in Ghana to ensure they comply with CAF technical standards.”
CAF has recommended that management of the Baba Yara Stadium hire specialised contractors immediately to carry out renovations necessary for the venue to meet CAF and FIFA regulations.
In a statement, CAF reiterated its willingness to assist Ghana, through the Ghana Football Association (GFA), in upgrading its stadiums to the required international standards.
To this end, CAF offered to provide an experienced international pitch consultant with expertise in major competitions like AFCON, to guide the improvements.
However, the GFA would be responsible for covering the costs of this support.
CAF also indicated that, after the renovation is completed, it would conduct an independent inspection at the GFA’s expense to determine if the stadium could once again host international matches.
With the suspension of Baba Yara Stadium’s approval, Ghana will need to secure alternative venues for upcoming international fixtures, including Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The GFA has pledged to collaborate with the government to resolve the stadium’s issues and restore its status as an international venue.