Cameroon to address pitch worries

Cameroon’s national stadium will shut during April in a bid to improve pitch quality ahead of Africa Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers.

Built in 1972, the Stade Omnisports Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde has come under criticism locally and internationally due to the deteriorating playing surface.

Home to Cameroon Elite 1 sides Canon Yaounde and Tonnerre Yaounde, the stadium will close in the hopes of improving the turf quality prior to 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.

“The minister for sports and physical education has instructed that all measures be taken at the administrative level for the stadium to be ready for use before the June hostilities,” Cameroon press officer Linus Pascal Fouda said in a statement.

Cameroon will host DR Congo on June 2 in the first round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, before a home match against Guinea Bissau on June 16 in 2013 Cup of Nations qualifying.