Almost half of the African nations hosting World Cup qualifiers in the upcoming week are compelled to hold their matches in neutral venues due to the Confederation of African Football’s crackdown on inadequate facilities.
Among the 43 countries scheduled for home games in the 2026 World Cup qualification from Wednesday to the following Tuesday, 17 are prohibited from using their own stadiums due to substandard conditions.
This includes Kenya, one of the designated co-hosts for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2027, and Benin, where the stadium in Cotonou remains in disrepair despite a recent major renovation.
CAF’s stringent stance on deficient facilities aims to push countries to enhance pitch conditions, as well as other amenities like changing rooms and stadium lighting, over the past two years.
The push for stadium renovations has motivated some countries to take action, but others have been slow or inactive, resulting in the loss of home advantage for competitive qualifiers.
Namibia coach Collin Benjamin emphasized the need for all stakeholders to collaborate in addressing this issue, highlighting the impossibility of qualifying for the World Cup while playing all matches away due to inadequate stadiums.
Namibia is compelled to host their home games against Liberia on Wednesday and Tunisia on Sunday in neighboring South Africa. Their last match in the capital Windhoek was in March 2021.
Morocco has extended assistance to several of the “homeless” countries, as part of a broader charm offensive across the continent through football cooperation agreements.
In addition to their own World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Agadir on Friday, Morocco will host a further eight matches over the next week in the North African kingdom.
South Africa remains a favored destination for countries seeking a venue, although stadium operators levy fees on football associations, further straining already tight budgets.
Benin, Congo, and Madagascar are the latest countries prohibited from using home venues.
However, South Sudan will conclude a lengthy exile as they host a match at a newly constructed stadium in Juba, facing neighbors Sudan in their Group B derby next week.
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