Niger will play their home matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Ghana’s Accra Sports Stadium after receiving approval to use the venue.
The Nigerien Football Federation was forced to look outside the country after failing to secure a stadium that meets the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA requirements for international matches.
Niger will therefore continue their recent practice of hosting home fixtures outside their borders, having previously used a stadium in Morocco during the last AFCON qualifying campaign.
The Squirrels have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Gabon and Lesotho as they bid to qualify for the 2027 tournament.
Their first home qualifier will be against Lesotho in Accra on September 25, before they travel to face Gabon four days later.
The decision to use the Ghanaian capital provides Niger with a venue that meets the required standards while also giving the Accra Sports Stadium another opportunity to host international football.
Accra Sports Stadium returns to CAF list
The Accra Sports Stadium was recently restored to CAF’s list of approved venues following renovation work carried out by Ghana’s National Sports Authority (NSA).
Its return is significant for Ghanaian football, with the stadium now expected to be available for the Black Stars’ own 2027 AFCON qualifying matches.
Niger’s use of the venue could therefore serve as an early indication of its readiness to host competitive international fixtures again.
The arrangement also means Ghana will welcome another national team for an official AFCON qualifier, despite Niger being the designated home side.
2027 AFCON qualifiers
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17.
Niger will face Lesotho, Gabon and Morocco in Group A, with the top two teams in each qualifying group securing places at the tournament.
For Niger, the immediate priority will be making the Accra Sports Stadium a temporary home and securing a positive start against Lesotho before travelling to Gabon.
For Ghana, meanwhile, the approval of the venue represents a boost as the country prepares to host international football again and potentially use the stadium for the Black Stars’ 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
