Patrice Motsepe: CAF Pres frustrated over subpar facilities forcing local national teams to play outside
The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe has noted his frustration anytime he witnesses a country has to play national football outside their country because of the lack or poor state of local facilities.
CAF recently banned Ghana from hosting international home matches at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi – the country's only approved facility, due to the poor condition of the pitch. Earlier, in a 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, Ghana and Angola struggled to use the said stadium. The only goal of the September 5 match, scored by Angola, came late in the 93rd minute. Angola's Pedro Goncalves and Ghana's Otto Addo both complained about the pitch, post-match.
"We always tried to play football, but the pitch was difficult," Goncalves remarked. "A country like Ghana deserves a better stadium, a better pitch for football."
Ghana's second Group F game was played against Niger in Berkane, Morocco, where they drew 1:1.
Ghana faces Sudan next in October in a game to be played in neighbouring Togo.
"There's nothing that frustrates me more than a national team or a football team of a country playing outside. You can't build football in any country in Africa if the national team or football clubs do not play in front of their nations," CAF boss Motsepe bemoaned.
"That's why the passion of [Kenya's] President Ruto, and his commitment, makes me so proud. He doesn't just love football [in words]..." he commended.
Dr Motsepe, speaking at a September 16 CAF presser in Nairobi, Kenya, acknowledged progress across Africa but emphasised more work was left to be done, also.
He said: "I'm very clear that we've made good success in reducing the number of countries that play outside their nation but in every meeting I have with a head of state - in every country, the emphasise is: 'Let's work together to make sure that we've got at least one stadium that's at the FIFA and CAF standard'."
Ghana Football Association (GFA) boss Kurt Okraku was present at the CAF presser, after taking part in the Executive Committee (EXCO) meeting in the capacity of President of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone B.
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