The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted a one match approval for Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to host the World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off match between Ghana and Nigeria.

The approval comes after a CAF Licensing Inspector visited the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Sunday to inspect the facility.

It had earlier been decided that the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, which hosted all of Ghana's previous qualifiers, was to host Ghana's final game in the 2022 qualifiers, till pictures of the state of the pitch found its way online.

The visit of the CAF Licensing Inspector was made necessary after a complaint by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to FIFA, about the poor nature of the Cape Coast Sports Stadium turf.

Here are excerpts of the letter sent to the GFA by CAF:

1. Upon conclusion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 playoff round match, the stadium is automatically removed from the list of CAF approved stadiums and will only be approved for any subsequent CAF/FIFA international senior national teams matches and CAF men’s interclubs competitions following the implementation of all the CAF remarks”.
2. Installation of new international standard, modern and comfortable officials’ benches at pitch level;
3. Adjustment of the floodlight intensity. A minimum of 1200 Lux should be provided all over the pitch, covering uniformly every area of the playing field;
4. Increase seating and lockers in the teams dressing rooms to reach (25) persons;
5. Installation of completely new modern equipment and materials in the referees dressing rooms and ensure that is equipped with all the necessary materials and CAF requirements;
6. Set up the water system to provide both cold and hot water in the teams and officials dressing room;
7. General refurbishment of the CAF office, installation of modern desks and seats, including the necessary electronic and working equipment;
8. VOC must be available and equipped with all the necessary equipment and requirements;
9. Complete refurbishment of the media tribune, press conference room and media centre, installing new and modern equipment.
10. In order to follow the progress of the above-mentioned works in the stadium, CAF will designate a stadium inspector to conduct an onsite assessment up till the day of the upcoming FIFA match.

CAF again stated that there shall an onsite stadium inspector to conduct further assessment of the facility until the fay of the match and that in the event that the above mentioned conditions are not met before the match; financial sanctions shall be imposed on Ghana.

Ghana will play Nigeria in the 1st leg on Friday, March 25, 2022 at 19:30GMT at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.