A report by experts from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reveals the origin of the flooding of the pitch of the Alassane Ouattara stadium in Ebimpé which occurred during the friendly match between Cote d’Ivoire and Mali, on September 12, 2023.

The CAF report said the problem encountered at the Ebimpé stadium was due to algae which caused the water to stay on the surface, and not allow it to seep into the root zone and gravel, thus making the pitch unplayable.

The investigative work carried out on September 13, 2023, the day after the friendly match, cut short after the first half with a draw, shows good functionality of the drainage when the layer of algae was eliminated, according to the report.

CAF experts recommend “the purchase of a tractor-mounted rake and rear roller mounted pedestrian rotary mowers which should be finalized immediately to ensure the necessary work can be carried out” to ensure good lawn functionality.

The report advises the addition of granular fertilizer to accelerate the recovery of the lawn, then raking and rotary mowing of the land at a regular frequency