FIFA 2026 WCQ: Otto Addo Laments ‘Bad’ Football Pitch Ahead of Ghana vs Chad Match
- Otto Addo has expressed concern over the poor state of the pitch set to host Ghana’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Chad
- The Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Deby Itno, located on the outskirts of N'Djamena, was inaugurated only in May 2025
- Victory over Les Sao would not only tighten Ghana’s hold on Group I but also edge them closer to World Cup qualification
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has raised serious concerns about the state of the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Deby Itno ahead of Ghana’s World Cup qualifier against Chad.
The 30,000-capacity arena, which was only opened four months ago, has come under scrutiny after the team’s first training session in N’Djamena.
Source: Getty Images
The 50-year-old tactician admitted he was shocked that football authorities had approved the venue for a game of such importance.
“Yeah, so, yeah, I'm really surprised that they have allowed this pitch for an international match. The pitch is really, really not good. It's very, very hard for the players, it's like playing on concrete. But yeah, what can we do?” Addo told the media, as quoted by Ghanafa.org.
According to him, the surface is far from ideal and could pose a risk to the players.
He added that CAF and FIFA should have ensured a better standard for the sake of the athletes’ health.
“We have to take it as it comes, and we are prepared. We observed everything today. Like I said, it's not a good AstroTurf, to be honest. Nowadays, there are far better Astroturf's, which are also much healthier for the players.”
See the date, time and venue for the Chad vs Ghana clash:
Ghana eyes victory vs Chad despite poor conditions
Despite his frustrations with the conditions, Addo reassured fans that his side remains fully focused on the task at hand.
According to Flashscore, Ghana currently lead Group I with 15 points, having won five of their six games so far.
The Black Stars face bottom-ranked Chad on September 4. The two sides have only met once before, on March 21, 2025. On that occasion, Ghana cruised to a 5-0 victory over Les Sao at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Watch highlights of Ghana's win against Chad in March:
Meanwhile, Comoros, just three points behind Ghana, takes on Mali in another crucial fixture.
Madagascar, which is also on the hunt for the sole World Cup ticket in the group, will meet the Central African Republic on the same day.
A win in N’Djamena would not only solidify Ghana’s grip on top spot but also edge them closer to next year's global showpiece.
Source: Twitter
If results elsewhere fall their way, the Stars could be in a position to book their ticket to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with victory over Mali in Kumasi on September 8.
Two players unavailable for WCQ clash against Chad
YEN.com.gh earlier reported a concerning setback for Ghana ahead of Thursday’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Chad.
Centre-back Alexander Djiku and winger Joseph Paintsil were both unable to make the trip for separate reasons, leaving the Black Stars a little short of strength going into the crucial clash.
Source: YEN.com.gh
