Angola head coach Pedro Goncalves expressed his disappointment with the state of the Baba Yara Stadium pitch following his team’s 1-0 victory over Ghana in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. Goncalves, echoing concerns raised before the match, said, “We tried to play good football, but the pitch made it difficult.”
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The pitch had been criticised on social media ahead of the game, with Ghana’s coach Otto Addo describing it as “concerning” during the pre-match press conference. Goncalves highlighted that Ghana, a nation with talented players, deserves a better playing surface. “They have good players, and they deserve a better pitch,” he remarked.
The poor condition of the field was reportedly due to a five-day church program held at the stadium earlier in the year. Despite the challenges, Angola’s win positions them at the top of Group F, while Ghana sits third.
The Black Stars will aim for redemption in their upcoming match against Niger on September 9.
