Our teammates mock our country because of the pitches we play on – Baba Rahman

Black Stars defender Baba Rahman has expressed strong concerns over the poor condition of football pitches in Ghana, calling it a national embarrassment.

In recent years, Ghana has faced criticism from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over substandard pitch conditions across the country. The issue came to the fore again during the 2024/25 FA Cup final, held at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, where fans were visibly disappointed by the state of the playing surface.

Speaking to Joy Sports, Baba Rahman, who currently plays for POAK, urged authorities to take immediate steps to address the long-standing issue.

“This is a serious issue that needs urgent attention,” he stressed. “I’m pleading with those in charge — let’s at least ensure the national team has a proper pitch to play on. Sometimes it’s really embarrassing.”

Rahman also spoke about how the poor conditions reflect poorly on Ghana at the international level.

“You go back to your club after international duty, and your teammates mock the country because of the pitches we play on. It’s honestly a national disgrace,” he said.

While acknowledging that Ghana’s weather conditions can make pitch maintenance difficult, the former Chelsea and Reading defender insisted that more effort is needed.

“I understand the weather makes pitch maintenance difficult, but we still need to make the effort. Improving our pitches will benefit all our national teams — from the juniors to the women’s sides,” he added.

Rahman’s comments echo the frustrations of many players and fans who believe that upgrading Ghana’s sports infrastructure is key to restoring pride and improving performance at all levels of football.