The Baba Yara Sports Stadium pitch is undergoing urgent repairs in preparation for Ghana’s opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola.
The stadium, the only one in Ghana to host CAF and FIFA-sanctioned events, suffered damage following a five-day event held on the pitch.
A viral video highlighted the problem, showing a water tank pouring large amounts of water onto the field, which has reignited concerns about the state of sports facilities in Ghana.
A football nation getting their national stadium in shape with 13 days to an international game.
Legends. pic.twitter.com/3pDJK9NEaG
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) August 22, 2024
The Black Stars are scheduled to play against Angola on September 5 before travelling to Niger for their second Group F match.
Despite criticism regarding the pitch’s poor grass quality and uneven surface, Bawa Majeed, Deputy Director-General of the National Sports Authority, has assured fans that the field will be in top condition for the upcoming game.
“I assure you that the pitch will be ready for the Black Stars’ match against Angola,” Majeed stated to Citi Sports.
“Before we handed over the facility for the event in Tarkwa, the Minister requested our recovery plan, which we provided. The minister was satisfied with our plan for addressing the pitch damage and had confidence in our preparations for its recovery.”
The Black Stars are aiming to secure one of the top two spots in Group F to qualify for the AFCON tournament, which will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Meanwhile, head coach, Otto Addo has submitted his squad list to the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
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