Top 5 Biggest Football Stadiums In Africa
In Africa, stadiums are usually built big enough for multiple events beyond football. Stadiums in Africa host athletics events, rugby, and many more.
Some of the aesthetically built stadiums are in Northern Africa and South Africa, the only South African country to have hosted the FIFA World Cup.
Morocco has been bidding to host the FIFA World Cup since the 1980s without success; hence they have some top-notch stadiums.
However, with capacity in mind, we take a look at the five biggest football stadiums in Africa.
1. FNB Stadium
Capacity: 94,736
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
The FNB Stadium used to be a 40,000 capacity stadium until it was renovated for the FIFA World Cup in 2010, and the upgrade made it the biggest stadium on the continent, with a capacity of just shy of 100,000.
The Calabash, as it is also called, takes a total sitting capacity of 94,736 people, and it has hosted the opening and final games of the FIFA World Cup and AFCON in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
2. Borg El Arab Stadium
Capacity : 86,000
Location: Alexandria, Egypt
Borg El Arab stadium, located in Alexandria, Egypt, has constructed ahead of the bid for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which the country lost to South Africa.
However, it will go on to host the opening game of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2009. Its 86,000 capacity is the biggest in Egypt and the second biggest in Africa.
3. Stade des Martyrs
Capacity : 80,000
Location : Kinshasa, DR Congo
Stade Des Martyrs houses the Congolese national team and has a sitting capacity of 80,000 which can be expanded to 125,000.
Opened in 1994, the stadium has a synthetic surface compared to the rest of the stadiums on this list. Stade des Martyrs is the national football stadium of the National Team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, AS Vita Club and DC Motema Pembe of Championship Democratic Republic of the Congo football.
4. Cairo International Stadium
Capacity : 74,100
Location: Cairo, Egypt
The Cairo international stadium is smaller in capacity, but it holds more historical heritage of Egyptian football and thus is the venue of many important Egyptian matches.
Before renovations for the 2006 AFCON, the stadium hosted more than 100,000 spectators due to its sitting pattern, which allowed people to squeeze together in the aisle.
5. Stade Mohammed V
Capacity : 67,000
Location: Casablanca, Morocco.
Morocco’s Stade Mohammed V hosts two iconic clubs in the country, Raja Casablanca and Wydad Casablanca.
The 67,000 capacity edifice once had a capacity of 110,000 spectators and has hosted the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup finals on different occasions.
