The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has stated that the Baba Yara Sports Stadium will be closed for all events ahead of the 2022 World Cup playoff match between Ghana and Nigeria.
The GFA says this decision was taken to allow the necessary changes ordered by CAF ahead of the match to be made.
“The Baba Yara sports stadium will not be available for activities from now till the FIFA world cup match between Ghana and Nigeria has been honoured. This is to enable preparations of the Stadium for the first leg fixture on Friday, March 25 2022 at 7:30pm,”
Ghana had been set to host the Nigerians at the Cape Coast Stadium but the away side complained about the state of the facility prompting CAF to move the match from that ground.
The hosts offered to move the game to Kumasi and after a visit by a CAF Licensing Inspector, the venue was approved for the game on March 25.
However, this decision is anchored on the fulfillment of certain criteria by Ghana to ensure that the stadium is up to standard for the game.
These include the provision of new benches for officials and the expansion of the dressing rooms at the stadium.
In total, CAF gave eight conditions for the use of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for the game:
- Installation of new international standard, modern and comfortable officials’ benches at pitch level;
- Adjustment of the floodlight intensity. A minimum of 1200 Lux should be provided all over the pitch, covering uniformly every area of the playing field;
- Increase seating and lockers in the teams’ dressing rooms to reach (25) persons;
- Installation of completely new modern equipment and materials in the referees dressing rooms and ensure that is equipped with all the necessary materials and CAF requirements;
- Set up the water system to provide both cold and hot water in the teams and officials dressing room;
- General refurbishment of the CAF office, installation of modern desks and seats, including the necessary electronic and working equipment;
- VOC must be available and equipped with all the necessary equipment and requirements;
- Complete refurbishment of the media tribune, press conference room and media centre, installing new and modern equipment.
CAF added that it would appoint a stadium inspector to conduct an on-site assessment of the stadium to endure that the conditions are met up till the day of the match.
