Ministry of Youth and Sports addresses CAF concerns at Baba Yara and Cape Coast stadia
4th October 2024
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced ongoing efforts to address the issues highlighted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the Baba Yara and Cape Coast Sports Stadia.
This comes after CAF granted temporary approval for the Accra Sports Stadium to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between the Black Stars and Sudan, scheduled for October 11, 2024.
CAF had earlier directed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to find an alternative venue outside Ghana due to the withdrawal of approval for the Baba Yara Stadium.
This would have marked the first time Ghana would play a home match outside its borders. However, the situation has been averted with the approval of the Accra Sports Stadium.
In response, the Sports Ministry assured the public that repairs at both the Baba Yara and Cape Coast stadia are underway to prevent future CAF bans. A statement released on Thursday explained that these efforts are aimed at ensuring that both stadiums will meet CAF and FIFA standards ahead of future inspections.
The statement read, “Concurrently, issues raised by CAF regarding the Baba Yara and Cape Coast stadia are being addressed, and we look forward to another inspection by CAF soon, to restore the status of these national stadia as approved venues for CAF and FIFA matches.”
The Ministry also expressed its gratitude to stakeholders who supported the process of securing CAF approval for the Accra Sports Stadium and emphasized the importance of collaboration in the development and maintenance of sporting facilities across the country.