GFA could submit Cape Coast, Accra to CAF by April 25 deadline

The Ghana FA is in talks with the Sports Ministry to determine and submit the Black Stars’ two venues for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before CAF’s April 25 deadline.

Based on a recent communication from CAF to the GFA on April 4, the Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium has been removed from the list of venues approved for FIFA/CAF Category ‘A’ matches.

The situation has forced the GFA and the Sports Ministry to consider the Accra and Cape Coast Sports Stadia as venues for the first round of qualifiers, scheduled for May 30 to June 14.

The Sports Ministry has summoned its policy implementation agency, the NSA to an emergency meeting to provide an update on the state of the nation’s venues.

However, the NSA released a statement on Thursday, debunking reports that the Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium has been rejected by CAF after inspection. Per the statement, the NSA expects the GFA to decide on its venues for the AFCON 2023 qualifiers, followed by a CAF venue inspection.

But, the GFA has explained that FIFA can only send a team to inspect Ghana’s stadia, once the 2022 football cycle ends and the FA submits new venues to CAF for international assignments. FIFA/CAF only agreed to send an inspection team to the Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium prior to the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-off against Nigeria, because it was an emergency situation.