The Africa Cup of Nations or AFCON will be held in Ivory Coast this year, which means teams all over Africa will be showcasing their skills throughout the country. As the tournament nears, let’s take a look at the stages to be featured in the competition. An introduction to these venues would be important, especially if you’ll be attending the games live!
1. Alassane Ouattara Stadium – Abidjan
Also known as the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, Alassane Ouattara Stadium will be a major venue of the AFCON tournament matches. Located in the economic hub of Abidjan, this stadium will be the stage of the opening match between host country Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau. Considered as one of the AFCON favourites when it comes to matchups, which means that audiences are expected to come in droves. Fortunately, the stadium can accommodate 60,000 fans who are surely eager to watch and support their teams.
2. Stade de la Paix – Bouaké
Located in Ivory Coast’s second biggest city in Bouaké, Stade de la Paix, or Stadium of Peace in English, will host the AFCON for the second time around. It is the second biggest stadium in Ivory Coast, which can accommodate 40,000 excited fans. Previously, it could accommodate only 15,000 people but was renovated. It has since added new facilities to expand its capacity, such as a fully-equipped media centre, auditorium, conference facilities, and an upgraded spectator parking area.
3. Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium – Abidjan
Alassane Ouattara Stadium isn’t the only gargantuan stadium in Abidjan. Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium was named after the country’s first Head of State. It can accommodate as much as 33,000 audience members, which was not the case before the structure underwent a renovation. The stadium will be hosting the tournament for the second time around.
4. Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium – Korhogo
Located north of Ivory Coast, the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo can host 20,000 AFCON fans. With the recent additional infrastructure, the stadium will be more than capable of featuring competing teams. These include a media center and broadcast facility. A quality natural grass pitch would also ensure that players can enjoy playing in this stage.
5. Laurent Pokou Stadium – Poro
Another stadium that will accommodate the AFCON matches is Laurent Pokou Stadium, located in the cultural city of Poro. The stadium can accommodate 20,000 fans and will be a part of the infrastructure legacy for hosting this year’s AFCON.
6. Charles Konan Banny Stadium – Yamoussoukro
Ivory Coast’s newly constructed stadium, Charles Konan Banny Stadium in the country capital of Yamoussoukro can accommodate 20,000 AFCON fans. It is right in the heart of the vibrant capital which means fans can enjoy many events before and after the matches. There are also a lot of spots in the city to chill and enjoy the matches.
These stadiums can comfortably accommodate fans that are eager to show their support for their favourite teams in the AFCON. Make sure to book your tickets early. While accommodating numbers can be substantial, take note that the AFCON is a massive event, which means that fans from all over the world will watch with you!
