CAF Issues Apology to Nigeria and Suspends Guinea-Bissau Stadium

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued an official apology to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the substandard condition of the playing surface during a recent qualifying fixture held in Guinea-Bissau.

Following a review of the venue’s suitability for elite international competition, the continental governing body confirmed an immediate ban on Guinea-Bissau’s Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro. The stadium has now been barred from staging any further matches throughout the remainder of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification series.

Stadium Standards Under Scrutiny

The playing turf became a subject of major contention before and during the Group L encounter. Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle described the ground as “very, very bad,” though he emphasized that the defective surface did not serve as an excuse for his squad’s poor display.

Guinea-Bissau capitalized on their home advantage to defeat Nigeria’s Super Eagles 3-0, courtesy of goals from Franculino Dju, Mama Baldé, and Álvaro Djaló. CAF’s official match report confirmed the outcome, which placed Guinea-Bissau at the summit of Group L with six points, while Nigeria remains behind on three points.

The suspension highlights lingering infrastructure deficits in key civic venues across the continent. Because national stadiums regularly serve as the primary venues for large-scale live music festivals and major creative gatherings, pitch and facility maintenance challenges continue to reflect broader venue infrastructure constraints across regional live event ecosystems.

Source: NotJustOk