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NSA Temporarily Shuts Down Baba Yara Stadium for Repairs After AFCON Qualifier Criticism
The National Sports Authority (NSA) has declared a temporary closure of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for maintenance purposes, intending to reopen it prior to Ghana’s forthcoming international match on October 7, 2024.
This decision comes in the wake of the recent 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Angola, during which both coaches and spectators expressed their dissatisfaction with the substandard condition of the playing surface.
Consequently, the NSA will collaborate with Asante Kotoko to arrange an alternative venue for their upcoming matches in the Ghana Premier League.
Asante Kotoko’s inaugural match of the season is set to occur at the Naa Sheriga Sports Stadium, where they will compete against Karela United; however, they will require a different home ground for their subsequent game.
âWe always tried to play football, but the pitch was difficult,â Gonçalves said. âA country like Ghana deserves a better stadium, a better pitch for football. They have such talented players.â
Ghanaâs coach, Otto Addo, acknowledged the pitch’s poor condition but refused to use it as an excuse for the teamâs loss, which ended Ghanaâs 24-year unbeaten streak at the stadium.
“I donât want to blame the loss on the pitch, though it was in bad shape. We managed to win on a similarly poor pitch against the Central African Republic. We just have to do better,” he said.
In response to the backlash, Majeed Bawa, the NSA’s Deputy Director General, defended the stadiumâs condition, questioning the critics. “Are they implying the Angolans were playing in the sky? Both teams played on the same pitch, which was inspected and approved by CAF.”
Despite the defense, the NSA has decided to close the stadium for maintenance and to repair damage caused by angry fans after Thursdayâs game
