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Ghana may play their AFCON qualifiers match in Nigeria, after Confederation of African Football (CAF) rejected their stadiums, as they failed to meet their standards.
The Ghana Black Stars are likely to host the remaining 2025 Africa Cup of Nations home qualifiers in Nigeria. It will be followed by the CAF’s rejection of their home venue ‘Baba Yara Stadium’ in Kumasi.
Reportedly, the inspection team of CAF had deemed the stadium unsuitable for competitive matches flagging the major structural concerns, including the poor drainage and uneven playing surfaces, with the uneven grass cover.
The Ghanaian venues such as the Cape Coast and Accra Sports Stadiums are failing to meet the standards of CAF and the now country is left with no approved stadium for their upcoming AFCON qualifier matches.
Considering this, CAF has directed Ghana to secure an alternative venue for their crucial Matchday three and four ties, which is to be held in October outside the country.
As per the sources, the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, has now emerged as the most likely and preferable option, given to its proximity.
The stadium facilitates with a capacity of 30,000 audience and currently serves as the home ground for the Super Eagles.
Other stadiums, that ares under consideration include Côte d’Ivoire’s Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny and Stade de la Paix, Cameroon’s Japoma Stadium in Douala, and the Berkane Municipal Stadium in Morocco.
Moreover, the Ghana Football Association is expected to announce its final decision soon, within the coming days.
Playing soccer in Nigeria comes with some logistical advantages for Ghana, that gives the relatively close proximity between the two countries and the strong transport links available.
Furthermore, the GFA is in talks with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to formalize the arrangements, including a secure suitable stadium, coordinating with the travel logistics and ensuring an adequate fan support for the Black Stars during their games.
The decision to potentially play in Nigeria presents both opportunities and challenges for the Black Stars. On the one hand, playing in a nearby country like Nigeria may reduce the disruption of not having a home stadium while ensuring compliance with CAF regulations.
However, on the other hand, Ghana will lose the advantage of home-ground support, which can be crucial in high-stakes qualifiers. Playing in front of a local crowd often provides teams with a psychological boost, and the absence of this home advantage could affect the Black Stars’ performance.
Notably, Ghanaian fans have expressed disappointment and frustration over CAF’s decision, as they were looking forward to supporting their national team on home soil. Many have taken to social media to voice their concerns, questioning why the necessary improvements to the stadiums were not made earlier to avoid this situation.
The GFA has come under criticism for not addressing the stadium deficiencies sooner, with fans and stakeholders demanding accountability and transparency regarding the maintenance and management of sports infrastructure in the country.