The Sudanese Football Association (SFA) has formally raised concerns to both a CAF delegation and Libyan authorities regarding the discovery of foreign material on the playing surface of the Benina Martyrs Stadium. This report comes after the Ghana national football team, the Black Stars, concluded their training session ahead of the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifier.
The incident, which occurred on the eve of Sudan’s crucial match against Ghana, has heightened tensions around the already critical fixture. Sudan is set to host Ghana on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, in Matchday 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The game is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 PM local time (13:00 GMT).
According to reports, the SFA, upon inspection of the pitch following Ghana’s training session, identified suspicious foreign materials scattered across the playing surface. The nature and origin of these materials have not yet been publicly disclosed, but the SFA wasted no time in reporting the matter to both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Libyan officials responsible for overseeing the Benina Martyrs Stadium.
CAF officials, along with the local authorities, have begun investigating the incident to determine whether the foreign substances pose any risks to player safety or the quality of the playing conditions. While no immediate disruptions to the match have been announced, both Sudanese and Ghanaian teams will be closely monitoring the situation as further inspections of the pitch continue.
The Stakes
The game holds significant weight for both teams. Sudan will be seeking to secure a vital win on home soil, while Ghana, sitting in a strong position in their group, will look to solidify their place in the upcoming tournament. The Black Stars are expected to put up a robust performance following their training sessions, and both teams are fully focused on the outcome of Tuesday’s game.
As investigations continue, all eyes will be on the CAF delegation and the Libyan authorities to ensure that the match proceeds under safe and fair conditions.
