CAF approves Baba Yara Sports Stadium to host Ghana's 2025 AFCON qualifiers opener

The Confederation of African Football has approved Baba Yara Sports Stadium to host Ghana's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers opener against Angola.

According to the dates announced by CAF, the game has been slated for Thursday, September 5, 2024.

The venue recently hosted a five-day church event which left the pitch in a devasting condition.

In a video sighted by GhanaWeb, the Baba Yara pitch had lost its lush green look, with the grass looking dead and brown.

The National Sports Authority (NSA) representatives in the Ashanti Region have assured fans that measures are in place to restore the pitch promptly.

"We have a robust plan, a crack field, and a maintenance team to recover the pitch and restore the facility in general in record time throughout August. Stakeholders can rest assured," the NSA Ashanti Region stated in a post.

Meanwhile, Angola manager Pedro Gonçalves, speaking ahead of the game has called for a 'fair' game following unspecified displeasing treatment in their last outing against Ghana in Kumasi.

"Both games in the last qualifiers were very balanced, so I guess we have our chances this time. I hope we will have a good game in Kumasi because the last time, a lot of things happened, so I hope CAF opens their eyes. A lot happened, and Ghana doesn’t need to be in that situation. I am hoping for a fair match, and in the end, we will see who’s going to win," he told Ghanasportspage.com.

Ghana and Angola are in Group F for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers along with Sudan and Niger.

Both nations faced each other during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, where Ghana won the first leg 1-0 and drew the second leg 1-1.

EE