Veteran Ghanaian coach Abdul Karim Zito has expressed concern that Black Stars players are underperforming in national team games due to the poor quality of pitches in the country.
His remarks come in the wake of Ghana’s recent 1-0 home defeat to Angola, a match where the condition of the Baba Yara Stadium pitch was heavily criticized.
Following the loss, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) withdrew approval for Baba Yara Stadium, citing “persistent issues” with the playing surface. As a result, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is now urgently searching for an alternative venue for the Black Stars’ upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
In an interview with Joy Sports, Zito pointed out the impact of subpar pitches on player performance. “Our players are used to quality pitches outside, so they feel uncomfortable when they come home to play, as they are afraid of getting injured. If you look at the goal we conceded against Angola, the intention from Abdul Mumin was right, but the pitch caused him to miskick,” Zito explained.
The GFA is racing against time to secure a suitable venue for the Black Stars’ next AFCON qualifier against Sudan in October, as the team seeks to overcome this latest setback and perform at their best.
