Guinea gets stadiums ready amid complaints about SA
by Lukhanyo Mtuta · KickOffA Guinean government official has revealed that the nation will soon be ready to host official CAF matches at home, with the announcement coming shortly after reports that the country had raised concerns with CAF about travelling to South Africa.
The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) is believed to have recently penned a letter to CAF stating that it is concerned about travelling to South Africa for a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
Brewing concerns from Guinea
The FGF is understood to have informed CAF that there have been xenophobic attacks in South Africa and is therefore concerned about the safety of the team and delegation.
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The letter comes in the wake of anti-illegal immigration protests that took place on 30 June, during which South Africans called for the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
Guinea have been drawn in Group D alongside Bafana Bafana, Eritrea and co-hosts Kenya.
Although CAF has already confirmed that the qualifiers will take place between September 2026 and March 2027, the exact fixtures and dates have yet to be announced.
'We are ready to host CAF fixtures'
Guinea coach Paulo Duarte stated in May that it would be important for his team to be able to play matches at home, something they have been unable to do in previous qualifying campaigns due to a lack of CAF-approved venues.
Mamadou Aliou Sory Barry, an official from Guinea's Ministry of Sport, has now stated that the country will have operational stadiums capable of hosting home matches by next month.
"By August 2026, we will have our stadiums," Barry told Tele24.
Barry also added that the September 28 Stadium in the capital, Conakry, has already passed several stages of the certification process amid its renovations and is getting closer to meeting CAF's standards.
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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