Seasoned sports journalist, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has slammed the state of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium pitch after the Black Stars unfortunate home loss on Thursday night.
Ghana took on Angola in the first qualifying match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in the CAF-approved Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Concerns were raised by fans and stakeholders regarding the state of the pitch after a viral video of a water tanker hurriedly watering it in time for the big clash after the National Sports Authority had rented it out for a five-day church crusade in late July.
The bad nature of the pitch was evident during the game as Ghana, who had a major percentage of ball possession, struggled to string passes together.
Head coach of the four-time African champions, Otto Addo, though not happy with the pitch, refused to blame it on his side’s loss.
Addo’s comments prompted a response from Yaw Ampofo, who insisted stakeholders must stop pretending and take on issues as they are without fear or favour.
“I’ll be doing this seat a dishonour if I don’t talk about the quality of the pitch. Some big men have asked me if it’s sabotage, laziness or lack of money. We have said it here during our Premier League matches, here you go. Sometimes we actually get attacked for raising genuine concerns. It is a national issue… The coach didn’t want to use that as an excuse, but when we keep pretending it doesn’t exist, then we shouldn’t talk about it, but I don’t think anyone should do that.”
