Which are the most expensive Stadiums in Africa? How much did it cost to build these structures? Which country are these stadiums located in? Football in Africa has taken a great leap and is one of the most prominent sports on the continent which has eager most African countries in building world-class stadiums to host their national teams and other sporting events.
Below are the 10 most expensive Stadiums in Africa starting from the least to the most expensive in Africa and how much they cost.
Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola ($227 Million)
Named in honor of Angola’s independence day. The Estadio 11 de Novembro is located in the capital of Angola Luanda. The 48,000 capacity stadium hosted nine matches of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations it is not only for football use but it’s a multi-purpose stadium.
The Stadium was constructed by Shanghai Urban Corporation Group in 2008 and was opened in 2009 just before the Africa Cup of nations in 2010.
The stadium is 10th most expensive stadium in Africa and the facility is currently used on a regular basis by football clubs Primeiro de Agosto, Petro de Luanda and Benfica de Luanda who play in Girabola.
Japoma Stadium, Douala, Cameroon ($232 Million).
The construction of the Japoma Stadium began on February 21, 2017 and was opened in December 2020 for use with a construction cost of around $232 million, with 85% of the project financed by Turkish Türk Eximbank.
The stadium is designed by British firm AECOM and management of the construction has been entrusted to Leonardo Cameroun sarl, which belongs to Italian Leonardo.
The Japoma Stadium is a 50,000-capacity all-seater multi-purpose stadium in Douala, Cameroon. It is part of a sports complex that also consists of an indoor arena for basketball, handball, futsal and volleyball, tennis courts and an 8-lane Olympic-size swimming pool, as well as conference and commercial centres, a hotel and a parking lot. The stadium also has an athletic.
Ebimpe Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast ($257 Million)
Inaugurated on October 3rd 2020 and renamed “Alassane Ouattara Stadium”, the Ebimpé Olympic stadium is a modern, multipurpose complex to the north of Abidjan. It is part of a comprehensive project for the construction and operation of the Ebimpé Olympic village.
The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 and was built by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design. While the stadium itself covers 20 hectares, a vast Olympic village is planned around it, spanning across 287 hectares.
With a capacity of more than 60,000 seats, the stadium is considered one of the biggest and most modern stadiums in Africa. The stadium is expected to host the opening ceremony and final ceremony of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha, South Africa($270 Million)
Located on the North end lake of Port Elizabeth. The Nelson Mandela Bay stadium is one of the most expensive stadiums in Africa with a construction cost of $270 million.
The Stadium was named after South African first president Nelson Mandela. It was one the coastal stadiums built to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it cost about Rand 2.05 billion it was opened in 2007 but was renovated and expanded in 2009.
The stadium’s construction was handled by a consortium made up of Ibhayi JV. It was built on the site of the old Parks Rugby Club, and the Prince Alfred Park
It is home to PSL side Chipa United and also plays hosts on a couple of Rugby matches.
Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, Dakar, Senegal ($270 Million)
The Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, also known as the Stade Abdoulaye Wade, is a multi-purpose stadium, which can host football, rugby and athletics, in Diamniadio, in Dakar, Senegal. It is the national stadium of the Senegal national football team. The stadium which has a capacity of 50,000 designed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects and built by Summa.
The stadium was built in 18 months by the Turkish construction company Summa with the cost of the construction reported being 156 billion CFA francs ($270 million)
The construction covered an area of 88,000 square metres (22 acres). The contract type was a design–build turnkey project.
The Stadium will host the 2026 Summer Youth
Olembe Stadium Yaounde, Cameroon ($284 Million)
The 2021 AFCON opening and closing ceremony Olembe Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium spanning 84 acres (400,000 sqkm) in Olembé locality, Yaoundé. It is the largest stadium in Cameroon by capacity, holding 60,000 spectators, and is one of the largest stadiums in Africa by the same measure. Located roughly 13km from Yaoundé city-centre, the stadium is part of a complex which includes two annex stadia training grounds; a gymnasium with handball, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts; an Olympic-size swimming pool; a shopping mall, museum and cinema; and a 5-star hotel with 70 rooms available.
The stadium’s official construction cost is put at around $284 million (163 billion CFA) following some financing controversy. The complex is reported to have encouraged the development of other otherwise unutilised areas, with new roads, eating and drinking establishments, hostels, and playgrounds among other facilities.
Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria ($360 Million)
The Moshood Abiola Stadium was designed by German company, Schlaich Bergermann & Partner and built by Julius Berger with a construction cost of $360 million and is the 4th most expensive stadium in Africa despite being built 19 years ago.
The Moshood Abiola National Stadium is an all-seater national sports stadium located in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The stadium is home to the Nigerian national football team. The Nigerian Federal Government approved the contract for the construction of the stadium July 18, 2000, for the 8th All Africa Games which took place in October 2003. The 60,491-capacity stadium is the largest in West Africa and 8 Largest Stadiums in Africa.
The Stadium was built on 29 hectares in the west of Abuja. Planned as the westernmost landmark of two central avenues of the capital, it stands on the opposite side to the national assembly building (easternmost). The building is connected by a set of pedestrian bridges to an even more spacious multi-use sports complex south, also providing it with vast parking sites.
FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa ($440 Million)
The FNB Stadium is also known as the Soccer City Stadium, or ‘The Calabash’ because of it design and shape and it is located in the heart of Johannesburg city. Because of the stadium’s calabash shape, the overall cost of construction was $440 million, which was justified.
The facility hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals between the Netherlands and Spain because it has the biggest capacity in Africa (94,736 spectators), making it one of the largest stadiums in the world.
Built in 1987, the stadium underwent a major upgrade for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with a new design inspired by the shape of an African pot, the calabash.The South African main contractor GLTA, part of the Aveng Group in a joint venture with the Dutch company BAM who had a 25% stake, constructed the upgrade, which was designed by HOK Sport (now known as Populous) and Boogertman + Partners.
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa ($450 Million)
Moses Mabhida Stadium is the second most expensive stadium in Africa and was built to serve as a playing venue for the 2010 World Cup.
The stadium officially opened on 29 November 2009 with a match between Amazulu and Maritzburg United (0-1).
During the World Cup, Moses Mabhida Stadium hosted five first round group matches, the round of 16 match between the Netherlands and Slovakia (2-1), and the semi-final between Spain and Germany (1-0).
After the World Cup, capacity of the stadium was reduced from 70,000 (or 62,760 during the World Cup) to 56,000 by removing the third tier.
The stadium’s most characteristic feature is its Y-shaped 106-metres high arch, inspired by the South African flag, and which holds up the Teflon-coated glass fibre membrane roof
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa ($600 Million)
The 55,000 seater stadium takes up top spot as the Most Expensive Stadium in African with a building cost of $600 million. The South African stadium was built by South African company Muray and Roberts.
It has a capacity of 55,000 but was expanded to 64,100 at the 2010 World Cup which was hosted by South Africa. The site at which it was built at was the place of the old stadium Green Point stadium.
The Cape town stadium broke ground in 2007 and was officially opened in 2009. It is located in Cape Town, South Africa.