The match between Ghana Black Stars and the Central Africa, scheduled to take place at home in an attempt to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is in limbo due to poor pitch standards.
The match is set for June 8, 2024 following an away qualification match against The Eagles of Mali on June 5, 2024.
However, FIFA has issued an ultimatum to fix the usual Baba Yara Sports Stadium, typically used by the Stars for all international games, to meet international standards or risk relocating the match.
This revelation surfaced after Kesbenfm made a Facebook post referencing the match against Mali, but according to FIFA, the qualification home match against The Eagles of Mali is scheduled for September 6, 2025, making it unlikely for FIFA to issue such an ultimatum.
The immediate match expected to be affected is the home qualification match in June 8, 2024 against the Central Africa.
In past instances, FIFA has cautioned the Stars about the standard of the pitch used to host international matches. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Stars encountered issues with the pitch
FIFA cautioned Ghana for pitch standard issues, specifically related to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, where a pitch invasion occurred during a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Madagascar on November 17, 2023.
FIFA fined Ghana 5,000 Swiss Francs for the incident, which involved unauthorized individuals entering the pitch and restricted area during the match.
This is not the first time Ghana has faced disciplinary actions for pitch invasions, as they were previously fined by CAF for a similar incident during a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in November 2019.
FIFA’s caution emphasizes the need for Ghana to adhere to international football standards and regulations to avoid future penalties.
FIFA has emphasized the need for stricter access control and improved internet facilities at the stadium, as well as the importance of avoiding unauthorized individuals within the restricted area.
The Football Federation’s Quality Programme for Football Goals provides further guidance to ensure goal safety and quality. Ghana’s adherence to these regulations is essential to maintain the integrity of international football matches and avoid future penalties.
