CAF rejects Baba Yara Stadium as Ghana’s 2027 U20 AFCON bid faces uncertainty

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) technical inspection team has raised major concerns about infrastructural deficiencies at the stadiums proposed to host the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

According to the inspection report, five venues were proposed: the Accra Sports Stadium, Baba Yara Stadium, University of Ghana Stadium, Cape Coast Stadium and Paa Kwesi Nduom Sports Complex.

Of the five proposed venues, Baba Yara Stadium was reportedly declared non-compliant with CAF’s Category 4 standards.

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The stadium, which has a capacity of over 40,000, will require comprehensive rehabilitation to address several issues, including problems with the playing surface, defective irrigation systems, obsolete and partially blocked drainage systems, and inadequate maintenance equipment.

The inspection team also raised concerns about the stadium’s security arrangements, including the absence of a functional CCTV surveillance system, automated access control, and electronic spectator-counting systems.

The report further noted that the stadium’s dressing rooms are undersized and inadequately equipped, while its media facilities are significantly underdeveloped.

Due to these deficiencies, Baba Yara Stadium has reportedly been ruled out as a potential venue for the competition, with the remaining proposed facilities also facing various challenges.

The Accra Sports Stadium was also flagged for several shortcomings, including the deterioration of metallic structures, inadequate crowd-control measures, emergency evacuation arrangements, media facilities, and security systems.

However, the University of Ghana Sports Stadium emerged as the strongest among the five proposed venues and impressed the CAF officials. Nevertheless, concerns were raised about its VIP and VVIP facilities, as well as its media and security systems.

The Paa Kwesi Nduom Sports Complex in Cape Coast also recorded deficiencies in its dressing room facilities, medical provisions, media infrastructure, and other areas.

The Cape Coast Sports Stadium was classified as partially compliant, with issues involving its playing surface, defective irrigation system and inadequate media facilities.

Authorities are expected to address the identified shortcomings as soon as possible to secure CAF’s approval for the venues to host the competition. Failure to do so could jeopardise Ghana’s bid to host the 2027 U20 AFCON.

SB/JKB

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