The National Sports Authority (NSA) has announced a month-long closure of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to facilitate essential maintenance.
The venue is expected to reopen in time for Ghana’s next home match on October 7, 2024.
The decision comes in response to widespread criticism of the stadium’s playing surface during Ghana’s recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Angola.
Both coaches and spectators expressed concerns about the pitch’s quality.
To accommodate Asante Kotoko’s Ghana Premier League matches, the NSA will collaborate with the club to find alternative venues.
The team’s season opener against Karela United is scheduled for the Naa Sheriga Sports Stadium, while their second fixture will be played elsewhere due to the Baba Yara Stadium’s closure.
Angola’s coach, Pedro Gonçalves, openly criticized the pitch’s condition, emphasizing the importance of a better playing surface for a country like Ghana.
Although Ghana’s coach, Otto Addo, didn’t attribute the loss to the pitch, he acknowledged its subpar state.
Despite efforts to defend the stadium’s condition, the NSA has decided to close it for repairs and to address damage caused by upset fans following the match.
