Nigeria-Burkina Faso final to be played on semi-artificial pitch
The National Stadium pitch that will host Sunday’s
Afcon finale has recently been redone with material that enables it to
accommodate activities other than football
Sunday’s
Africa Cup of Nations final match between Nigeria and Burkina Faso will
be played on semi artificial grass at the National Stadium, otherwise
known as Soccer City.Constructed for the 2010 World Cup, the 94,736 capacity stadium has recently undergone some renovation to the playing surface in order to make it able to host other activities like music concerts and other non-sport events.
“We decided to rip out the pitch in the middle of December last year and installed a brand new 50 percent artificial pitch,” said an official quoted by The Star. “We are 100 percent comfortable the pitch conforms to Fifa regulations. I still believe it’s one of the better pitches in the country at the moment.”
Last weekend, United States band Red Hot Chilli Peppers performed on the pitch.
The Local Organising Committee has come under a lot of criticism for the pitch at the Mbombela Stadium where Burkina Faso played all its matches.
The Star also reported that the grounds men in the stadium painted the pitch green before the last Group C game between the Stallions and Zambia in order to make the bumpy surface “more aesthetically pleasing.”
