Niger and Somalia are turning to Ghana as they seek suitable venues for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
Niger have received approval to host their home games at the Accra Sports Stadium, while Somalia have also asked to use the venue.
The development follows the return of the Accra Sports Stadium to the list of approved venues for international football.
Niger set to host home games in Accra
Niger will use the Accra Sports Stadium for their home qualifying fixtures after receiving approval to stage the matches in Ghana.
The Mena are in Group A alongside Morocco, Gabon and Lesotho.
Their first home match in the current qualifying window is against Lesotho.
The match is scheduled for September 25, with Niger set to face Gabon away four days later.
Niger’s move to Accra comes because their home facilities do not currently meet the requirements for CAF and FIFA-sanctioned international matches.
The country also used a foreign venue during the previous AFCON qualifying campaign.
Somalia also wants to play in Accra
Somalia has separately approached Ghana for permission to use the same stadium.
The Somali Football Federation has written to the National Sports Authority seeking approval to stage its home matches in Accra.
Somalia are in Group C with Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon.
The Ocean Stars are scheduled to host Côte d’Ivoire on September 29 after opening their campaign away against The Gambia.
If the request is approved, the match against Côte d’Ivoire would be played at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Accra Sports Stadium gains regional importance
The increased interest comes after the stadium regained approval to host major international matches.
National Sports Authority Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah said the facility is currently Ghana’s only approved venue for FIFA Category A matches.
The stadium underwent renovation and rehabilitation work after previously losing its approval.
The latest clearance has also opened the door for other African countries without approved home venues to consider Accra.
For Ghana, the development comes ahead of the Black Stars’ own 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Ghana are scheduled to host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 27, three days after facing Côte d’Ivoire away in Bouaké.
Niger and Somalia could add more fixtures
The potential use of the stadium by Niger and Somalia would give Accra a busy role in the early stages of the AFCON qualifying campaign.
Somalia’s request is particularly notable because the country is in the same qualifying group as Ghana.
It means the Accra Sports Stadium could host matches involving several teams competing for places in the same tournament.
However, Somalia’s request still requires approval from the Ghanaian authorities.
The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The top two teams from each qualifying group will secure places at the tournament.
Source: GhanaSportOnline
