The Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, commonly known as the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, is the venue for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations curtain-raiser between Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau on Saturday evening.
Situated in one of the nation's economic hubs in Abidjan, The Olympic Stadium of Epimbe will host both the AFCON opening and closing ceremonies.
Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮 have outdone themselves on the stadium showcase for the upcoming AFCON 2023. 🤗👌🏾 pic.twitter.com/WZwwaCmc1i
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) January 12, 2024
The construction of this state-of-the-art pitch kicked off in 2016 before it was officially inaugurated on October 3, 2020.
While the Olympic Stadium of Epimbe is the centrepiece of Ivory Coast's many infrastructural legacies for the beautiful game, we take a look at how it compares to the top football stadiums around Africa.
The best stadiums in Africa – Does the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe make the cut?
- Soccer City Stadium (South Africa)
With 94,700 seats, Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, is presently the biggest stadium in Africa.
This stadium, commonly known as FNB Stadium (First National Bank Stadium), was erected in 1987 in the province of Gauteng with a capacity of 80,000 seats until the upgrades to reach 94,700 were made to be the major stadium to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
2. Borj Al Arab Stadium (Egypt)
The multipurpose sports stadium known as the Borj Al Arab Stadium is situated 25 kilometres west of Alexandria, Egypt. It is the biggest stadium in Egypt and the continent's second-biggest. It can hold up to 86,000 people and serves as the home field for the Egyptian national team.
The Egyptian Armed Forces Corps of Engineers (EAFCE) built Borj Alarab Stadium, which opened for regional and worldwide competitions in 2007.
3. Stade 5 Juillet 1962 (Algeria)
The 5 July 1962 Stadium, a football and athletics venue, is located in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. The stadium, which could hold 95,000 spectators, was commissioned in 1972 and functioned as the primary stadium for the All-Africa Games in 1978, the Pan Arab Games in 2004, the Mediterranean Games in 1975, and the All-Africa Games in 2007.
4. Stade des Martyrs (Congo DR)
The national stadium of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as the Stade des Martyrs, is situated in the hamlet of Lingwala in Kinshasa, the nation's capital. The stadium is primarily utilized for football games.
The stadium serves as the home ground for DC Motema Pembe and AS Vita Club as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo national football team.
5. Stade Mohamed V (Morocco)
Located in the western Maârif neighbourhood of Casablanca, Morocco, Mohammed V Stadium is a component of the Mohammed V Athletic Complex. There are 67,000 seats at the stadium, and the highest attendance to date was 110,000.
6. Hammadi Agrebi Stadium (Tunisia)
The Stade Hammadi Agrebi in Tunisia, constructed at the turn of the century, served as the model for contemporary North African football stadiums. The stadium, which was built initially for the 2001 Mediterranean Games, has all the amenities one could want for a showcase stadium in the twenty-first century and the adjacent running track added to the glitzy atmosphere.
7. Moses Mabhida Stadium (South Africa)
One of the most attractive African football stadiums is the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, which features a curved roof and a towering arch across the pitch. The ball-shaped stadium, one of the new sites constructed for the 2010 World Cup, is as contemporary as they come, with underfloor roofing, top-notch lighting, and simple access for spectators.
8. Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium (Tanzania)
The Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium was opened in 2007. The stadium is situated in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. Benjamin Mkapa, the third president of Tanzania, inspired the name. Although it serves multiple purposes, the Tanzania national football team now calls this multipurpose stadium home, and it is the site of several important football matches.
9. Estádio 11 de Novembro (Angola)
Named after the anniversary of Angola's independence. Angola's capital, Luanda, is home to the Estadio 11 de Novembro. The 55,000-seat stadium, which can accommodate more events than only football, served as the home of nine 2010 Africa Cup of Nations games.
Shanghai Urban Corporation Group built the stadium in 2008, and it opened the following year, in 2009, right before the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
10. Peter Mokaba Stadium (South Africa)
The Peter Mokaba Stadium is situated in Polokwane, South Africa. This stadium, which can hold 45,500 people, is one of the largest in South Africa and hosted several matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The stadium owned by Polokwane City is the eighth most costly stadium in Africa, having cost $150 million to build and can also host rugby matches as well.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
