CAF apologizes to Super Eagles, bans Guinea-Bissau stadium over poor pitch

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has apologized to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the poor playing surface used for the Super Eagles’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau.

Nigeria suffered a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro, with the condition of the pitch becoming a major concern before and during the encounter.

According to a report by OwnGoalNigeria, the playing surface was considered unsuitable for professional football, with concerns raised about the potential risk of serious injuries to players.

The Nigerian players were reportedly advised before the match to assess the risks involved and communicate with their respective clubs over possible injuries that could result from playing on the poor surface.

Nigeria also lodged a complaint over the condition of the pitch, while Guinea-Bissau officials and players reportedly expressed similar concerns about the state of the playing surface.

CAF has now banned the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro from hosting further matches in the ongoing qualifiers and issued an apology to the NFF.

The continental football body explained that the pitch was not in the same condition when it was originally inspected and approved to host the qualifying fixture.

Guinea-Bissau had initially been instructed to play its home matches in Morocco because of concerns over the condition of the stadium.

However, the country successfully secured CAF approval to use the venue after extensive repair work was carried out about a month before the Nigeria fixture.

The pitch subsequently deteriorated before the match, leading to renewed concerns over its suitability.

The CAF decision means Guinea-Bissau will now have to find an alternative venue for its remaining home fixtures in the qualifiers.