The Deputy Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Abdul Majeed Bawa, has denied claims that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has threatened to move the match between Ghana and Angola to a neutral venue.
These reports emerged following concerns over the condition of the Baba Yara Stadium, which led to speculation that CAF might relocate the game.
In an interview with Citi Sports, Bawa Majeed explained that CAF had initially rejected the first set of images of the stadium’s playing surface provided by the Ghana Football Association (GFA). They subsequently requested updated photos and videos.
Bawa Majeed assured that the pitch will be in good condition by August 30, in time for the match.
“I’m confident the facility will be ready by the 30th of this month for the Africa Cup qualifier against Angola,” he stated. “Although the initial pictures were not ideal, significant improvements have been made since then.”
He added that he personally visited the stadium to oversee the necessary work and that efforts are being made around the clock to ensure the pitch is up to standard.
“There is indeed a letter from CAF, but I’m not sure it was as strongly worded as some reports suggest,” Bawa Majeed said.
“CAF expressed concerns based on media reports and the initial images they received. They requested updated photos and videos by the 25th of this month. Our FA sent a representative to capture these images, but CAF requested more specific angles and examples of the expected pitch quality.”
The Black Stars will face Angola in their Group F opener for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on September 5.
Ghana will then travel to play Niger in their second group match four days later. Otto Addo is expected to announce his squad for these games this week.