Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has expressed serious concern about the playing surface at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby, where Ghana will face Chad in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Thursday, September 4.

Speaking during his pre-match interview, Addo said he was stunned that the pitch had been approved for an international fixture, describing it as extremely hard and unsafe for players.

“Yeah, so, yeah, I'm really surprised that they have allowed this pitch for an international match. The pitch is really, really not good. It's very, very hard for the players; it's like playing on concrete. But yeah, what can we do? We have to take it as it comes, and we are prepared,” he said, as quoted by GFA

The coach further criticised the artificial surface, stressing that there are far better and safer options available.

“We observed everything today. Like I said, it's not a good AstroTurf, to be honest. Nowadays, there are far better AstroTurfs, which are also much healthier for the players,” Addo added.

Despite the poor conditions, the Black Stars boss reaffirmed Ghana’s determination to secure victory as they push toward their fifth World Cup appearance.

"Yeah, it's a special moment, I think, for the country. But like I said, we have to really be focused on the game. We blend everything else out, and we know what our aim is. Our aim is to qualify for the World Cup. And if we beat Chad, we're getting closer. So, we do everything we can to win this match,” he stressed.

The crucial Group I encounter kicks off at 13:00 GMT.