Ghana Set To Play Remaining AFCON Qualifiers In Nigeria After Ban On Kumasi Stadium

Ghana Black Stars could play their remaining AFCON 2025 home games in Nigeria after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) withdrew approval for the use of the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

The CAF inspection team, on their last visit to Ghana, pointed out several issues which include a playing field that was deemed unsuitable for competitive matches, uneven surfaces, poor drainage, and inadequate grass cover were some of the issues raised.

According to CAF, persistent issues at the venue, and others in Ghana, such as Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium have led to the continent’s governing body asking the country to select an alternative venue from among those approved outside Ghana, for Matchday 3 and 4 of the AFCON qualifiers in October.

In light of this, according to Joy Sport sources, the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, seems like the most likely alternative for the Black Stars remaining home matches.

Aside the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, other stadiums considered include the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny and the Stade de la Paix, both in Côte d’Ivoire, Japoma Stadium, located in Douala and the Berkane Municipal Stadium, in Morocco, where Ghana played Niger.

After two games played in the AFCON qualifiers, Ghana has just one point after a 1-0 loss to Angola and a 1-1 draw with Niger Republic.

At the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana crashed out in the group stage.