CAF reportedly bans Guinea-Bissau stadium over nature of pitch
The Confederation of African Football (CAN) has reportedly banned Guinea-Bissau’s Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro from hosting any international matches moving forward due to the bad nature of its turf.
It was said that CAF made the decision after a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying game between Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau in which the Super Eagles lost 0-3 following widespread criticism over the bad nature of the pitch.
According to the report, the stadium was banned for failing to meet international safety and quality standards. The governing body also apologised to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), admitting that the pitch had degraded significantly after its initial pre-match approval.
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Recall that days before the game, Super Eagles Media Officer Promise Efoghe blasted the state of the turf, stating that the playing surface was “worse than a farmland”.
His comments were also echoed after the game by Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle who said that the poor surface of the pitch which posed a high risk of severe muscle and joint injuries, affected his team play in the disappointing loss to Guinea-Bissau.
The reported decision by CAF has now vindicated fans, pundits, and sports journalists across social media and digital platforms who all questioned the approval of the substandard stadium for international games.
