The 28-Septembre Stadium in Conakry was set to be inaugurated on September 28, as part of Guinea's 68th independence anniversary celebrations on October 2. However, the ceremony was unexpectedly postponed due to heavy rain and concerns over the stadium's homologation. Despite a massive deployment of security services, firefighters, and other personnel, the event was cancelled at the last minute. The postponement has raised questions about the cost of organizing the event, with millions of Guinean francs reportedly spent on preparations.
A technical mission from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspected the stadium on September 28, led by the head of infrastructure services. The mission aimed to verify the stadium's compliance with CAF and FIFA requirements ahead of Guinea's match against Kenya on October 1, as part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers. Following the inspection, Guinea's Minister of Youth and Sports, Mamadou Cellou Baldé, expressed optimism that the stadium meets the required standards.
Minister Baldé announced that the inspection was successful, and the stadium is ready to host the Syli National's match against Kenya on October 1. He highlighted that the renovation project goes beyond the stadium's pitch and stands, with other facilities such as a gymnasium, Olympic pool, and administrative building nearing completion. The minister welcomed the team's return to their home ground after a four-year absence.
Despite the optimism, questions remain about the postponement of the inauguration. According to reports, the stadium has not yet received its definitive homologation from CAF. The temporary homologation granted to the stadium allows it to host two matches, including the upcoming Kenya game. Guicopres, the company responsible for the renovation, has assured that all CAF recommendations have been addressed.
The postponement of the inauguration ceremony has raised concerns about the cost of organizing the event and the readiness of the stadium. With the CAN 2027 qualifiers approaching, Guinea is eager to finalize the stadium's homologation. The country's national team has been forced to play their home matches abroad due to a lack of homologated stadiums.
The 28-September Stadium's renovation is part of a larger project to upgrade Guinea's sports infrastructure. The complex will feature various facilities, including a gymnasium, Olympic pool, and administrative building. While the stadium's temporary homologation allows it to host matches, the definitive homologation is still pending.
The Guinea national team, Syli National, will face Kenya on October 1 in the CAN 2027 qualifiers. The team's return to their home ground after a four-and-a-half-year absence is a significant development. However, the postponement of the inauguration ceremony and the ongoing renovation work raise questions about the stadium's readiness for future events.
Key points
- The inauguration of Guinea's 28-September Stadium was postponed due to heavy rain and concerns over its homologation.
- The stadium has received temporary homologation from CAF, allowing it to host the upcoming match against Kenya.
- The definitive homologation of the stadium is still pending, with CAF's recommendations yet to be fully addressed.
