The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to host Ghana’s 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off first-leg match against Nigeria.
The approval followed an inspection of the recently renovated stadium after CAF rejected the Cape Coast Sports Stadium over poor pitch conditions and inadequate facilities.
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CAF granted Baba Yara Stadium approval for only the World Cup play-off match. The stadium will be removed from the list of approved venues after the game until all required improvements are completed and a new inspection is carried out.
CAF directed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to install new officials’ benches, improve floodlight intensity to at least 1,200 lux, increase seating and lockers in the dressing rooms, upgrade the referees’ dressing rooms, and ensure an onsite stadium inspector monitors preparations until match day. Failure to meet the conditions could result in financial sanctions.
The approval comes as a relief after FIFA considered moving Ghana’s home fixture to either Benin or Morocco following the rejection of the Cape Coast Stadium.
The Cape Coast venue was ruled unsuitable after the pitch deteriorated following activities during Ghana’s 65th Independence Day celebrations. Although efforts were made to restore the playing surface, they were unsuccessful before the deadline.
Ghana hosted Nigeria in the first leg of the World Cup play-off at Baba Yara Stadium on March 25, 2022, with the return leg played four days later in Abuja.
