Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Le Félicia
Aerial view of the stadium in September 2023
Full nameFelix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Former namesStade Géo André
LocationLe Plateau, Abidjan nord, Abidjan
Coordinates5°19′41.7″N 4°1′6.3″W / 5.328250°N 4.018417°W / 5.328250; -4.018417
OwnerGovernment of Ivory Coast
Capacity33,000[1]
Field size105m x 68m
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built1952
Opened1964
Renovated2009, 2017, 2020–2023[2]
General contractorMota-Engil (2020–23 renovations)[2]
Tenants
ASEC Mimosas (1964present)
Ivory Coast national football team (19642020)

The Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, nicknamed Le Félicia, is a multi-purpose stadium, which can host football, rugby union and athletics, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. It is the former national stadium of the Ivory Coast national football team. It is named after the first president of the country, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, and is located in the commune of Le Plateau. The stadium has a capacity of 33,000.[1] It also hosts matches of ASEC Abidjan. It has been the site of several deadly stampedes.

History

Built in 1964 to organize the "Games of Abidjan", the stadium was formerly known as Stade Andre Geo, and it took the name of the President Felix Houphouet-Boigny after undergoing restoration.

Gradually it emerged as the National Stadium, hosting the ASEC Mimosas and Ivorian Soccer Team.

Along the Stadium of Peace of Bouake, Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny hosted Africa Cup of Nations soccer. In 2009 after a complete renovation, which included lawn seating and the treatment room, the stadium hosted the 2009 African Championship of Nations.

The stadium was renovated for the 2017 Jeux de la Francophonie.[3]

The stadium played host to Amnesty International's Human Rights Now! Benefit Concert on October 9, 1988. The show was headlined by Sting and Peter Gabriel and also featured Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tracy Chapman and Youssou N'Dour.

The American singer Chris Brown finished his Carpe Diem Tour at this stadium on December 30, 2012.

Incidents

On March 29, 2009, during the match between Ivory Coast and Malawi, the gateway to an open corner of the stadium gave way before the kick-off of the match. A stampede ensued when 19 people were killed by trampling. Over 130 were injured as well.

On January 1, 2013, following a New Year's Eve fireworks display, another stampede took place, in which sixty-one lives were claimed, with upwards of 200 injuries sustained.[4]

2020 Renovations

Renovations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations began in April 2020 and concluded in 2023. The renovation was performed by Mota-Engil and included the installation of a complete roof and an increase in capacity to 33,000 seats.[2][1]

On 15 October 2023, The newly renovated stadium hosted an international friendly between host Ivory Coast and Morocco, which ended 1-1. The re-opening of the venue was attended by some of the senior government officials, the Local Organising Committee Vice-Chairman and FIF President Idriss Yacine Diallo and CAF officials.[5]

2023 Africa Cup of Nations

The stadium will be one of the venues for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.[6]

The following matches will be played at the stadium:

Date Time (GMT) Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Spectators
14 January 2024
17:00
 Egypt
2–2
 Mozambique32,592
14 January 2024
20:00
 Ghana
1–2
 Cape Verde11,943
18 January 2024
20:00
 Egypt
 Ghana
19 January 2024
14:00
 Cape Verde
 Mozambique
22 January 2024
17:00
 Guinea-Bissau
 Nigeria
22 January 2024
20:00
 Cape Verde
 Egypt
27 January 2024
20:00
Runner-up Group A
Runner-up Group C
29 January 2024
17:00
Winner Group B
3rd Group A/C/D
2 February 2024
17:00
Winner R2
Winner R1
10 February 2024
20:00
Loser SF1
Loser SF2

Structure

The stands are painted in national colours consist of curves, the gallery lagoon side of the podium, a gallery and a presidential box, VIP, and BVIP .

The stage contains a media room, a room control used for anti-doping, a VIP room, a treatment room, offices of arbitrators, a massage room, and four dressing rooms.

The stadium has a video board 220 volts for 35 kwh, 16.50 meters by 5.70 meters.

The lawn is of international standard and is maintained daily green and glowing.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Stade FELIX HOUPHOUET BOIGNY". 15 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Le "Félicia" ferme en avril, Ébimpé ouvre" (in French). www.7info.ci. 15 January 2020.
  3. "CHANTIERS DES JEUX DE LA FRANCOPHONIE (French)".
  4. Bakayoko, Inza (2013-01-01). "Stampede After Fireworks Kills 61 in Ivory Coast". Time. Archived from the original on 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  5. "Festivities mark the official grand re-opening of the historic Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan this weekend". www.cafonline.com. 15 October 2023.
  6. "Here are the 6 stadiums that will host AFCON 2023". AfrikPage. 13 April 2023.
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