The Accra Sports Stadium will not host competitive football until Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Gambia, the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has confirmed.
The decision means clubs planning to use the stadium as their home venue for the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season will have to find alternative grounds.
The new league campaign is due to begin this weekend, with Hearts of Oak among the clubs expected to stage home matches at the Accra Sports Stadium.
However, Ampofo Ankrah says the facility will remain unavailable as the NSA works to ensure it meets the standards required by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“Ghana Premier League clubs or any other club that will play their home games at the Accra Sports Stadium must look for an alternative venue because the Accra Sports Stadium will not be in use until Black Stars’ home game against The Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
“We will ensure the stadium is up to the standard set by CAF,” he told Asempa FM.
Ghana will open their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign away to Ivory Coast on 24 September 2026 at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.
The Black Stars will then return home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later, provided the venue is cleared for the fixture.
Ghana are also scheduled to face Somalia in a pair of qualifiers in November before completing their Group C campaign against Ivory Coast and The Gambia in March 2027.
The Black Stars are seeking a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the previous edition, which was hosted by Morocco.
The NSA’s decision to keep the Accra Sports Stadium closed until the Gambia fixture is aimed at giving the facility time to undergo the necessary work ahead of Ghana’s AFCON qualifying campaign.
Credit: ghanasoccernet
