By: Nana Kwame Bediako
The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has granted temporary approval for the Accra Sports Stadium to host Ghana v Sudan AFCON qualifiers on Friday, October 11, 2024. This decision follows the unexpected withdrawal of approval for the Baba Yara Stadium due to its poor infrastructural state, which had been the initial choice for hosting CAF category C games. The sudden change left Ghana scrambling for a suitable venue, raising concerns about the country’s preparedness for the crucial match.
The Accra Sports Stadium’s temporary approval by CAF has now brought a sigh of relief to both fans and officials.
CAF inspected both the Cape Coast Stadium and the Accra Sports Stadium last week before eventually making the decision to select Accra Sports Stadium to host the game on a temporary basis.
A statement from CAF on the approval read:
‘’Following a comprehensive review of the reports of the CAF independent inspection regarding the Cape Coast and Accra Sports Stadia, we are pleased to inform you that the Accra Sports Stadium has been approved to host the AFCON Qualifiers for Morocco 2025. Specifically, it will host the Group F – Matchday 3 encounter between Ghana and Sudan, which is scheduled for October 11, 2024.
In light of this approval, we kindly request that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the stadium management team prioritise the necessary enhancements to the pitch and other critical areas of the stadium leading up to the match day to ensure an optimal experience for both teams and the attending fans.
Please note that CAF will continue to closely monitor the readiness of the stadium for this match, as well as for future CAF-sanctioned events.”
As the nation prepares for the Ghana vs. Sudan clash, there’s a growing interest in how this experience will shape the future of sports infrastructure development in the country. Fans and players are eagerly anticipating the showdown between Ghana and Sudan, with the change in venue adding an extra layer of intrigue to the match.
