The Ghana Football Association announced that the Sekondi Sports Stadium will host Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Somalia on November 12, 2026. The decision follows a temporary approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which granted permission for the match while the venue remains incomplete.
GFA President Kurt Okraku revealed the news during a meeting with Parliament’s Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture. He explained that CAF could only approve the fixture temporarily because key stadium facilities still fall short of licensing standards.
Recent renovations have replaced the roof, all seats, washrooms, the VIP area and the scoreboard. However, CAF requires additional upgrades: each team’s dressing room must have 24 lockers, water heaters, and modern fittings; a fully functional drainage and irrigation system; CCTV surveillance; automated access control; and accurate spectator counting. Crowd‑management and emergency evacuation systems, media facilities, and security arrangements also need to be fixed.
The media stand currently holds only foldable, plastic seats. To meet CAF requirements, the area must feature reliable internet, enhanced conference rooms, a permanent photographer’s zone, and a dedicated space behind the goalposts with proper seating, power extensions, and Wi‑Fi cables.
Despite these outstanding works, CAF has approved the stadium for its second competitive match since reopening. The venue last month hosted the Black Queens’ Olympic qualifier against Mauritius.
GFA officials said they will work closely with CAF to complete the necessary upgrades before the scheduled match, ensuring the stadium meets all safety and quality standards for international competition.
