Baba Yara fails CAF standards as Ghana battles to secure AFCON U20 hosting rights

Ghana’s ambition to host the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations (AFCON U20) has encountered a major setback after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reportedly raised concerns about the condition and readiness of proposed stadium facilities.

The development has placed pressure on Ghanaian football authorities to address infrastructure shortcomings and ensure that the country meets the competition’s hosting requirements.

Stadium readiness is a critical part of CAF’s hosting assessment, with facilities expected to meet standards covering playing surfaces, dressing rooms, floodlighting, media facilities, security and spectator accommodation.

Ghana’s proposed hosting venues include five stadiums spread across Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast. However, CAF’s findings suggest that substantial investment and rehabilitation will be required before the country can secure final approval.

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi has emerged as the biggest concern. The 40,528-capacity facility was declared non-compliant with CAF Category 4 requirements following an inspection conducted between January 12 and 16, 2026.

Inspectors identified a poor playing surface, defective irrigation systems, outdated drainage infrastructure and inadequate maintenance equipment. The assessment also highlighted weaknesses in CCTV surveillance, electronic access control, spectator monitoring, dressing rooms and media facilities.

CAF indicated that the stadium would require comprehensive technical, operational and safety improvements before it could be considered for the tournament. A further inspection and certification would also be necessary.

The Accra Sports Stadium has also come under scrutiny. Although it remains one of Ghana’s most important football venues, the inspection report identified deteriorating metallic structures, including corrosion and rust, alongside weaknesses in crowd management, emergency evacuation arrangements and security infrastructure.

Accra Sports Stadium faces major rehabilitation demands ahead of AFCON U20.

The facility was classified as partially compliant, meaning significant improvements would be needed before it could host the competition.

Other proposed venues also require attention

The University of Ghana Sports Stadium received the strongest assessment among the five proposed venues. The 10,000-capacity facility was classified as compliant with conditions, although improvements are still required in its VIP facilities, media infrastructure and security arrangements.

University of Ghana Stadium emerges as Ghana’s strongest proposed AFCON U20 venue.

The Nduom Sports Complex in Cape Coast also received a compliant-with-conditions assessment. Its outstanding issues include pitch maintenance, dressing rooms, medical facilities, media infrastructure and security. Inspectors additionally raised concerns about an access road that was under construction during the inspection.

Nduom Sports Complex among venues recommended for Ghana’s U20 tournament bid.

Meanwhile, the Cape Coast Sports Stadium was classified as partially compliant, with concerns involving its playing surface, irrigation, media facilities and spectator safety.

Cape Coast Stadium requires improvements to meet CAF competition standards.

The challenges extend beyond the main competition stadiums. CAF also identified shortcomings at Ghana’s 10 proposed training facilities, including inadequate playing surfaces, poor drainage, insufficient floodlighting and poorly equipped dressing rooms.

Some training grounds were also found to lack proper perimeter fencing, access-control systems and dedicated maintenance personnel. CAF requires training facilities to provide a minimum floodlighting level of 500 lux.

Ghana still has a chance to secure the tournament

Despite the concerns, CAF has not declared Ghana’s hosting bid unsuccessful. Its assessment considers the proposal viable, provided the necessary infrastructure improvements are completed within agreed timelines.

The inspection report recommends prioritising the University of Ghana Sports Stadium and Nduom Sports Complex because they require comparatively lower levels of investment.

It also calls for major rehabilitation programmes at Baba Yara and Accra Sports Stadiums, alongside targeted improvements at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

CAF has urged Ghana to establish a phased infrastructure programme with clearly defined budgets, implementation deadlines and follow-up inspections.

The country’s ability to deliver the required improvements, secure funding and satisfy CAF’s technical requirements will therefore be crucial to its ambition of hosting the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

The latest findings put Ghana’s sports infrastructure under renewed scrutiny, with the country facing a significant test of its ability to prepare world-class facilities for an international youth football competition.