FC Samartex 1996 and Nsoatreman FC to play CAF Inter Club Competition Preliminary stage matches at Accra Sports Stadium

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has notified the Ghana Football Association of its decision to give an Exceptional Approval for the use of the Accra Sports Stadium as venue for CAF Champions League debutants FC Samartex 1996 and CAF Confederation Cup first-timers Nsoatreman FC.

This decision was arrived at after the GFA, through its Club Licensing Department, initiated a re-homogolation process for the country's flagship stadium.

CAF, in their official notice, reiterated that the stadium still remains in the state it was at the time it was barred from hosting top tier CAF/FIFA matches. CAF went on to state that the GFA and the stadium authorities must address issues such as the quality of the playing field, stands and spectator facilities, competition areas, media and medical facilities, and the quality of equipment and materials.

The GFA has been notified that the facility is not approved for any Category (3) matches of CAF, which includes the Group Stage games of the CAF Interclub competitions and senior national team matches.

As such, the Facility owner (the National Sports Authority), the GFA, FC Samartex 1996, and Nsoatreman FC must collaborate to correct the defects in the facility before another inspection of the facility is conducted, should the clubs qualify for the group stage of the competition.

The GFA and partners, the NSA, shall continue to engage to ensure that the outstanding issues captured in the communique from CAF are addressed in time to ensure that the facility is elevated to a level where it can host category 3 and 4 matches.

GFA Communications