Accra Sports Stadium approved for Ghana-Sudan AFCON qualifier

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved the Accra Sports Stadium as the venue for the upcoming TotalEnergies 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Matchday 3 qualifier between Ghana and Sudan, set for Friday, October 11, 2024.

In a letter to the Ghana Football Association (GFA), CAF confirmed the approval following an independent inspection of both the Cape Coast and Accra Sports Stadia.

“Following a comprehensive review of the reports from the CAF independent inspection regarding the Cape Coast and Accra Sports Stadium, we are pleased to inform you that the Accra Sports Stadium has been approved to host the AFCON Qualifiers for Morocco 2025. Specifically, it will host the Group F-Matchday 3 encounter between Ghana and Sudan on October 11, 2024,” the letter stated.

CAF also urged the GFA and stadium management to focus on key upgrades ahead of the match.

“In light of this approval, we kindly request that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the stadium management team prioritise the necessary enhancements to the pitch and other critical areas of the stadium leading up to match day to ensure an optimal experience for both teams and attending fans.”

The continental football body emphasised its continued oversight of the stadium’s readiness for future events, stating, “CAF will continue to closely monitor the readiness of the stadium for this match as well as for future CAF-sanctioned events.”

This approval of the Accra Sports Stadium follows CAF’s recent ban on the Baba Yara Stadium, previously the only approved venue for Black Stars matches, due to its failure to meet required standards. Consequently, the GFA has been working to secure an alternative venue for the crucial 2025 AFCON qualifier against Sudan.