NSA closes Accra and Cape Coast stadia for maintenance

The National Sports Authority (NSA) has temporarily closed the Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Sports Stadium for maintenance, with the goal of upgrading the facilities ahead of upcoming international matches. According to sources from JoySports, this move is part of an effort to elevate the stadia to meet international standards.

The closure follows a directive from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) last week, which barred the Baba Yara Sports Stadium from hosting CAF/FIFA senior international matches due to the poor condition of its pitch. While CAF has called for a complete reconstruction of the Baba Yara pitch, the NSA is currently implementing temporary measures to ensure the stadium can host the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier against Sudan in October.

In light of the Baba Yara situation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has instructed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to collaborate with CAF to inspect both the Accra Sports Stadium and the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon to assess their suitability for hosting the qualifier. The Accra stadium, although listed in CAF’s database, still requires major improvements, while the Legon stadium appears unprepared for approval.

On September 6, 2024, the GFA met with the Sports Ministry and the NSA to discuss the pressing need to repair the Cape Coast Sports Stadium after the Black Stars’ recent defeat to Angola at Baba Yara. As of now, it seems likely that Ghana may host Sudan in Cape Coast, pending any further issues.

If none of the venues in Ghana meet CAF’s requirements, the GFA is considering the possibility of playing the match in Togo as an alternative.