2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Ghana to host home games at Accra Sports Stadium after CAF approval

Ghana's Accra Sports Stadium has been cleared by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host international matches, paving the way for the Black Stars to return to their traditional home for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The approval follows months of renovation work by the National Sports Authority (NSA), which has been working to bring the stadium back in line with CAF's requirements after it previously lost its certification.

Ghana will now host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on 27 September in their first home match of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.

The Black Stars will travel to Ivory Coast three days earlier for their opening Group C fixture before returning to Accra to face Gambia.

The stadium's return to CAF's approved list ends a period of uncertainty over Ghana's ability to stage major international matches at the venue.

The facility had struggled to meet CAF and FIFA standards in recent years, forcing the national team to consider alternative venues for some of its fixtures.

Concerns over the stadium's condition remained even as renovation work was under way.

Earlier this month, Berekum West MP Dickson Kyere-Duah described the facility as a "death trap", underscoring the wider concerns about the state of Ghana's sporting infrastructure.

CAF's approval could also provide a solution for other African countries that do not currently have stadiums meeting international standards.

Niger will use the Accra Sports Stadium as its home venue during the 2027 AFCON qualifiers after securing permission from Ghana. The country is in Group A alongside Morocco, Gabon and Lesotho.

Somalia has also formally approached the NSA for permission to use the stadium for its home matches.

Somalia is in Group C alongside Ghana, Ivory Coast and Gabon, meaning the Accra Sports Stadium could host several matches involving teams from Ghana's qualifying group.

The top two teams from each qualifying group will qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

For Ghana, the return of the Accra Sports Stadium offers the Black Stars a familiar home setting as they begin their bid to reach the tournament after missing the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.