Reports emerging from Ghana suggest that the Black Stars, Ghana’s national football team, may host their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) home qualifiers in Nigeria.
This development comes as the team searches for a suitable venue to play their remaining matches, with Nigeria’s stadiums potentially offering a solution.
This followed the Confederation of African Football’s rejection of their home venue, the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
CAF’s inspection team had deemed the stadium unsuitable for competitive matches flagging the major structural concerns, including poor drainage, uneven playing surfaces, and uneven grass cover.
With other Ghanaian venues like the Cape Coast and Accra Sports Stadiums also failing to meet CAF’s standards, the country is left without an approved stadium for their upcoming qualifiers.
CAF has directed Ghana to secure an alternative venue for crucial Matchday three and four ties in October outside the country.
The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, has now emerged as the most likely option, given its proximity.
This facility, with a capacity of 30,000, currently serves as the home ground for the Super Eagles.
Other stadiums under consideration include Côte d’Ivoire’s Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny and Stade de la Paix, Cameroon’s Japoma Stadium in Douala, and the Berkane Municipal Stadium in Morocco.
The Ghana Football Association is expected to announce its final decision within the coming days.
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