Derek Boateng slams GFA over poor state of pitches in Ghana
Former Ghana international and Fulham star Derek Boateng has publicly criticized the Ghana Football Association (GFA), accusing the body of prioritizing money over maintaining proper playing conditions for the Black Stars.
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His comments come after the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, which hosted Ghana’s recent match against Angola, was banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) due to the poor quality of the pitch.
CAF's decision to ban the stadium has left Ghana with limited options for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sudan, potentially forcing the Black Stars to play in Togo, Nigeria, or Ivory Coast. According to CAF, the stadium "does not meet the standards required for CAF/FIFA senior international matches," and it has recommended a full reconstruction of the pitch.
The governing body also urged Ghanaian authorities to assess other major stadiums to ensure they meet technical standards.
Boateng expressed frustration over the situation, calling on the GFA to address the issue. "It is really sad. This job is a huge job. One person cannot do it,” Boateng said. “The FA needs to wake up and do something because this is their job, to make sure all the fields are good for the players to play."
He further accused the GFA of neglecting player conditions, adding, “The only thing they care about is money. We have players coming from Europe, used to good fields, and then they come here to play on a poor pitch, and we expect them to perform well and win games?”
Boateng challenged the GFA to fix the pitches before the next round of qualifiers in October, insisting that if the association genuinely cared about football, it would take action to resolve the issue.
In response to the growing criticism, the Sports Ministry has directed the National Sports Authority (NSA) to "take steps to resolve issues with the pitch" at the Baba Yara Stadium. However, renting out national stadiums for non-sporting events, a key source of income for the NSA, has often left the facilities in poor condition.
The Black Stars, currently third in Group F with just one point from two games, will face Sudan on October 11 in a must-win game if they hope to improve their chances of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON. Ghana recently suffered a 1-0 loss to Angola, followed by a 1-1 draw with Niger, leaving them in a precarious position ahead of the upcoming match.