Former Black Stars midfielder, Prince Polley, has expressed how the pressure at the Accra Sports Stadium makes the Baba Yara Sports Stadium the desired venue for the Black Stars.
Until Angola’s 1-0 win over the Black Stars in September 2024, the Black Stars had not lost a game at the Baba Yara Stadium for two decades. The team had turned the stadium into a fortress.
Nonetheless, CAF’s decision to ban the usage of the stadium just after the game meant that the Black Stars had to return to the Accra Sports Stadium for their game against Sudan and Niger in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Black Stars would eventually pick just a point from the two games, drawing goalless with Sudan and losing 2-1 to Niger.
According to Polley, the pressure at the Accra Sports Stadium plays a factor in the team’s struggles whenever they play there and that could arise again when Ghana play Chad on March 21, 2025.
“Pressure will definitely come, especially at Accra Sports Stadium where everyone is expecting Ghana to win. If by the 39th minute, there’s no goal and anxiety starts to build amongst the fans, they’d start intimidating the players,” he said.
He, however, shared his optimism, acknowledging the team’s ability to handle such pressures but revealed that these situations make the team prefer to play at the Baba Yara Stadium.
“However, I believe our players can handle it. In Kumasi, the fans give the players more time and space, which is why the Black Stars often prefer to play there. Thankfully, we have very good players who are determined and performing well in Europe, so I’m confident they can deliver,” he added.
Second in the group with 9 points from 4 games, the Black Stars will continue their quest of securing a ticket to the 2026 World Cup against Chad in Accra and Madagascar in Morocco on March 21 and March 24, respectively.
Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians debate the appointment of Jordan Ayew as Black Stars below:
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