Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
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 50,000. It also hosts matches of ASEC Abidjan. It has been the site of several deadly stampedes.
Le Félicia | |
 | |
 Aerial view of the stadium in February 2009 | |
| Full name | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | Stade Géo André |
| Location | Le Plateau, Abidjan nord, Abidjan |
| Coordinates | 5°19′41.7″N 4°1′6.3″W |
| Owner | Government of Ivory Coast |
| Capacity | 50,000[1] |
| Field size | 105m x 68m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1952 |
| Opened | 1964 |
| Renovated | 2009, 2017, 2020–2023[2] |
| General contractor | Mota-Engil (2020–23 renovations)[2] |
| Tenants | |
| ASEC Mimosas (1964–present) Ivory Coast national football team (1964–2020) | |
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 on 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.[2]
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.
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 | – |  Mozambique | ||
| 14 January 2024 | 20:00 |  Ghana | – |  Cape Verde | ||
| 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
- "Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny - Football Stadium".
- "Le "Félicia" ferme en avril, Ébimpé ouvre" (in French). www.7info.ci. 15 January 2020.
- "CHANTIERS DES JEUX DE LA FRANCOPHONIE (French)".
- 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.
- "Festivities mark the official grand re-opening of the historic Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan this weekend". www.cafonline.com. 15 October 2023.
External links
