Guinea-Bissau Confirms CAF Inspection Of Stadium After Nigeria Match

The Guinea-Bissau Football Federation (FFGB) has confirmed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will begin a technical inspection of the natural playing surface at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau on October 22, following concerns over the pitch.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, the federation said CAF had appointed a specialist playing-surface consultant to assess the pitch and recommend improvements ahead of the country’s next international fixtures.

The inspection follows Guinea-Bissau’s 3-0 victory over Nigeria in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter at the stadium on September 29.
The FFGB said the inspection would complement ongoing pitch rehabilitation work initiated by the federation and the government.

It stressed, however, that the inspection did not mean the stadium had been banned from hosting international matches, adding that no decision to suspend its approval had been taken.

‘The Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro continues to be among the venues authorised to host CAF competitions,’ the federation said, explaining that the consultant’s mandate was limited to a technical assessment of the playing surface.

The federation added that only CAF’s administration could decide whether the stadium would remain approved for international fixtures, based on the consultant’s report.
The FFGB pledged full cooperation with the inspection team, promising to provide the necessary technical documentation and access to the stadium’s maintenance personnel.

It also called on the government to complete the rehabilitation work as quickly as possible, saying both parties wanted Guinea-Bissau to continue playing their home matches before their supporters under suitable conditions.

The federation said it would not prejudge CAF’s decision before the report had been considered by the relevant authorities.