Côte d'Ivoire

Location

Ebimpé, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Ivory Coast

Capacity

60,012

Opened

2020

Time zone

UTC +00:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Alassane Ouattara Stadium, commonly known as the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé and formerly as the National Stadium of the Ivory Coast, is a multi-purpose stadium in Ebimpé and Anyama, in northern Abidjan. It opened in 2020. The stadium hosts major football matches including home matches of the Ivory Coast national football team. Alassane Ouattara Stadium is owned by the Government of Ivory Coast. With 60,000 seats, it is the largest stadium in Ivory Coast and one of the most modern stadiums in Africa. Designed by the Beijing Institute Architectural Design The new national stadium of Ivory Coast was strategically situated away from Abidjan, positioned between the communes of Ebimpé and Anyama. In a direct distance, it stands approximately 20 km north of central Abidjan. The decision to relocate the country's sporting hub beyond the city limits was a deliberate one. Ultimately, it is envisioned to be an integral part of a sprawling 287-hectare sports city, set to become one of the largest sports and leisure districts in Africa to host multiple sports like football, rugby and athletics. As for the stadium itself, the initial construction phase covered only its immediate surroundings, encompassing four plazas and providing 1,400 parking spaces. The stadium is situated on a rectangular plot spanning 20 hectares. Due to variations in land elevation, the project necessitated extensive excavation, involving the removal of approximately 500,000 tons of soil. This early stage presented considerable challenges, exacerbated by heavy rainfall that led to instances of mud flooding. The stadium was primarily designed and its construction was initiated with the intention of hosting the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, under the leadership of Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan, but On 30 November 2018, CAF stripped Cameroon of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations because of delays in the construction of stadiums and other necessary infrastructure; it was relocated to Egypt. Then-CAF President Ahmad Ahmad said that Cameroon had agreed to host the 2021 tournament instead. Consequently, Ivory Coast, the original hosts of 2021, hosted the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. On 30 January 2019, the CAF President confirmed the timetable shift, after a meeting with Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is the first major competition hosted in the country since the 1984 edition.