World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Chad vs Ghana, N'Djamena pitch raises concerns for Otto Addo | OneFootball

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World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Chad vs Ghana, N'Djamena pitch raises concerns for Otto Addo

The Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo, has voiced his concerns over the condition of the pitch at the Stade Olympique in N'Djamena, where Ghana will face Chad this Thursday in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The stadium, inaugurated as recently as May 2025 with a capacity of 30,000, has come under fire following Ghana's first training session. Addo described the pitch as excessively hard, "like concrete," calling it dangerous for players, and lamented that CAF and FIFA had not enforced better standards to protect athletes' health.

Despite these difficulties, the 50-year-old coach assured that his squad remains focused on the target. Ghana, leading Group I with 15 points, is aiming to strengthen its grip at the top against Chad, who sit bottom of the standings. In their only previous meeting in March 2025, the Black Stars cruised to a 5-0 victory in Accra.

A win on Thursday would bring Ghana a step closer to securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, before they host Mali on September 8 in Kumasi.