The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted approval for the Accra Sports Stadium to host Ghana’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier against Sudan. The Black Stars will face the Falcons of Jediane in the Group F match on October 11, 2024, marking the third fixture of their qualification campaign for the tournament, which will be held in Morocco.
This decision follows a previous directive from CAF, which had instructed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to select a new venue after the temporary approval of Kumasi’s Baba Yara Sports Stadium was rescinded. CAF officials conducted inspections of both the Cape Coast Stadium and the Accra Sports Stadium last week, ultimately rejecting the Cape Coast venue in favor of Accra.
CAF’s official statement confirmed the decision, stating: “After a thorough evaluation of the CAF independent inspection reports for both the Cape Coast and Accra Sports Stadia, we are pleased to inform you that the Accra Sports Stadium has been approved to host AFCON 2025 qualifiers. Specifically, the stadium will host the Group F – Matchday 3 fixture between Ghana and Sudan, scheduled for October 11, 2024.”
The statement further emphasized the importance of preparing the venue adequately for the event, urging the GFA and the stadium’s management to focus on improving the pitch and other key facilities. CAF also highlighted that it would continue to monitor the venue’s readiness for the upcoming match, as well as for any future CAF events.
The Black Stars, who have yet to secure a win in their first two qualification matches against Angola and Niger, will be looking to boost their campaign with a positive result in the crucial fixture against Sudan. The match will take place on Friday, October 11, 2024, and promises to be a key moment in Ghana’s quest for a spot in the AFCON 2025 tournament.