This is not the field of dreams

Mbombela officials will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss the appalling state of the Nelspruit stadium pitch, which is still to host quarterfinal and semifinal matches at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Stadium management promised yesterday to have the playing surface improved by Sunday's quarterfinal between Burkina Faso and Togo.

Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor added his voice to a chorus of condemnation of the surface after his team battled to a 1-1 draw against Tunisia in the final Group D game on Wednesday.

Before the start of Afcon the stadium turf was hit by algae, which was made far worse by heavy downpours that waterlogged the surface.

In a bid to rectify the issue, groundsmen threw soil on the surface, without the approval of the Confederation of African Football. This left the surface uneven, with sand spraying into the air every time players go in for a challenge.

Stadium manager Roelf Kotze said it had been difficult to deal with the problem without destroying the grass, and more rain had not helped either.

Zambian midfielder Rainford Kalaba slammed the pitch on which the defending champions had to play all three of their matches: "As you can see there is a lot of sand on the pitch, so we could not string five or six passes together. It was difficult, but we tried our best."

Kotze said: "The double-header matches denied us sufficient time to strengthen the grass with sand. But now that we have a three-day break, we'll be able to work on it for Sunday's game."

Adebayor said the "disgraceful" pitch did the image of African football no favours.

"The stadium is one of the best I have played in," he said, "but to be honest, it's a disgrace for our continent to be playing on this pitch when it is on the TV around the world."

"Caf have to do something. I think those watching the game in Europe will soon be texting and asking me if I was playing in the bush. It's a disgrace for our continent. I think we can do better."