Somalia and Niger are set to use the Accra Sports Stadium as their home venue for matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after the facility received clearance from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The National Sports Authority (NSA) has confirmed that the Accra Sports Stadium has been approved to host international fixtures, making it the only venue in Ghana currently cleared to stage FIFA Category A matches.
NSA Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, disclosed that both Somalia and Niger have expressed interest in using the stadium for their respective home fixtures during the upcoming international break.
“Accra Sports Stadium is currently the only approved venue for FIFA Category A matches,” he told 3Sports.
The development follows recent maintenance works carried out at the Accra Sports Stadium after CAF raised concerns about the condition of the facility and its suitability for hosting international matches.
With the necessary works completed and the venue now cleared, the stadium could host not only matches involving Ghana’s Black Stars but also home fixtures for other African national teams unable to use their own approved facilities.
According to Ampofo Ankrah, Niger is expected to face Lesotho at the Accra Sports Stadium while Ghana travels to Bouaké on September 24.
“On the 24th of September, the Black Stars will be in Bouaké. At the same time, Niger will be here against Lesotho. So, we’re preparing for that,” he said.
He further indicated that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has communicated arrangements for Ghana and Somalia to play their respective home and away fixtures in Accra.
“Both matches—Ghana vs Somalia and Somalia vs Ghana—will be played in Accra, home and away. That’s what the FA has communicated, so we need to prepare for those matches,” he added.
The 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign is set to get underway, with Ghana scheduled to begin its campaign against Côte d’Ivoire before hosting Gambia in its second fixture.
The availability of the Accra Sports Stadium provides a major boost for Ghana’s international football calendar, while also positioning the country as a potential host for other African nations seeking approved venues for their home matches.
