Six world-class stadiums ready for kick-off
CAF UPDATE (11 Jan 2024): With less than 48-hours to kick off, CAFOnline takes a look at all host venues of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
A total of six world-class stadiums spread across five host cities will be play host to the 34th edition of Africa’s biggest football tournament between 13 January – 11 February.
Alassane Ouattara Stadium: CITY: Ebimpe STADIUM CONSTRUCTION: 2016 – 2020 CAPACITY: 60 000
Located in one of the country’s economic hubs in the city of Abidjan, the Alassane Ouattara Stadium will play host to the opening and closing ceremony of the tournament.
The 60 000-seater capacity arena headlines one of many infrastructure legacies of the tournament for the host nation and will bring a number of economic opportunities after the final whistle is sounded.
The erecting of the world-class venue began in 2016 with the breaking of ground for the multi-purpose venue.
It was then officially inaugurated on 3 October 2020 in a ceremony attended by senior government ministers and officials before an exhibition match between two of the nation’s biggest clubs, Asec Mimosas and Africa Sports Abidjan.
In addition to its large hosting capacity, the stadium is a multi-purpose venue that boasts a number of world-class amenities such as an athletics track, conference facilities, gyms, auditorium and VIP facilities.
Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium CITY: Abidjan, BUILT: 1952, RENOVATION: 2021 – 2023, CAPACITY: 29 000
Named after the nation’s first Head of State, President Felix Houphouet-Boigny, this is one of the country’s heritage venues and will play host to Africa’s biggest event for the second time, having been one of the two host venues back in 1984.
In line with meeting the required CAF Standards, the stadium underwent complete renovations to its structural set up, seating, pitch, dressing rooms and hospitality suites.
The seating capacity doubled to 29 000 for the tournament, along with other facility upgrades to the venue.
In addition to football, the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium boasts an athletics track and has also hosted a number of major sporting codes and events in Abidjan.
Stade de la Paix: CITY: Bouake, BUILT: 1983, RENOVATIONS: 2019 – 2023, CAPACITY: 40 000
One of Côte d’Ivoire’s most iconic football stadiums, Stade de la Paix which is located in the nation’s second largest city of Bouake, will be hosting its second TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations after being one of the host venues back in 1984.
One of the venue’s most memorable events includes the dramatic semi-final 5-4 penalty win by Cameroon against Algeria in the 1984 TotalEnergies CAF AFCON where the Indomitable Lions went on to claim the title.
The stadium has since received a major facelift from its original 15 000 to the now 40 000 capacity-seating among other upgrades ahead of the tournament.
Additional upgrades include a fully equipped media centre, auditorium, and conference facilities as well as an upgraded spectator parking facility to accommodate the thousands of expected fans.
Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium: CITY: Korhogo, BUILT: 2019 – 2023, CAPACITY: 20 000
Located in the northern part of Cote d’Ivoire’s city of Korhogo, Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly is one of the legacies that will come with hosting an international event of the magnitude of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
The newly built stadium covers a vast 20.17 hectares of land to add to the aesthetic beauty of the city.
The hosting capacity will be 20 000, with a quality natural grass field, an athletics track, media centre, broadcast compound as well as other stadium facilities required for hosting international events.
Stade Charles Konan Banny: CITY: Yamoussoukro, BUILT: 2019 – 2021, CAPACITY: 20 000
Located in the nation’s capital of Yamoussoukro that is constantly abuzz with economic activity, the newly built Stade Charles Konan Banny forms part of the city’s monumental architecture and will add to the city’s economic hub of activity post the tournament.
After a two-year construction, the stadium hosted its first football match on 3 June, which served as a qualifier for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2023 finals as the hosts edged Zambia 3-1 at the grand opening.
The stadium has a seating capacity of 20 000, an athletics track, media facilities, hospitality suites and conference centres.
Stade Laurent Pokou: CITY: San Pedro, BUILT: 2019 – 2023, CAPACITY: 20 000
An architectural beauty located in the culturally rich region of Poro, Stade Laurent Pokou also forms part of the infrastructure legacy of hosting the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
With construction having begun in 2018, the 20 000-seater is poised to be a jewel for San Pedro.
Covering 23.33 hectares of land, the stadium’s elegant design is complemented by its world-class facilities which include a state-of-the-art natural grass pitch, conference centres, media centre and other facilities that will drive economic activity after the final whistle is sounded. [Source: CAF]
