CAF President Patrice Motsepe Expresses Concern Over National Teams Playing Outside Their Countries.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has voiced his frustration regarding the ongoing issue of national teams and club sides being forced to play their home matches outside their countries due to substandard facilities. His remarks come following the recent decision by CAF to ban Ghana from hosting matches at the Baba Yara Stadium, the only approved venue in the country, due to the deteriorating condition of the pitch.
Motsepe’s criticism extended beyond Ghana, citing Nigeria as another example, where clubs such as Rangers and Enyimba, participating in the CAF inter-club championships, are playing their home games at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, rather than their home grounds.
Speaking at a CAF meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, Motsepe did not mince his words. “Nothing frustrates me more than a national team or club side having to play home matches outside,” he said during a press briefing. He stressed the crucial role home support plays in the growth of football, emphasising, “You can’t grow football if the national teams or club sides aren’t playing in front of their home fans.”
Motsepe’s comments highlight the urgent need for African nations to improve their sports infrastructure, particularly football stadiums, to ensure that teams can play in front of their home supporters, fostering local enthusiasm and development in the sport.
