Biggest stadiums in Nigeria 2025: Full list ordered by capacity

Nigeria is home to some of the most iconic sporting arenas in Africa, with the biggest stadiums in Nigeria serving as grand stages for football. From the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, these venues are not only architectural landmarks but also symbols of the country's profound love for football.

Over the years, the biggest football stadiums in Nigeria have hosted unforgettable matches, from local derbies to international fixtures that brought together thousands of passionate fans under one roof. The legacy of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria is closely tied to the country's role as a host of major tournaments. The 1980 African Cup of Nations final, played at Lagos National Stadium, remains one of Nigeria's most celebrated football moments, while modern arenas in cities like Abuja and Uyo have since welcomed continental competitions and World Cup qualifiers.

This article examines Nigeria's largest football stadiums in depth, highlighting how they have established the country as a key centre for sporting excellence in Africa. Continue reading for more information.

A table of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria

From the preceding, let's explore the details of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria a bit further.

Moshood Abiola National Stadium

With a seating capacity of 60,491, Moshood Abiola National Stadium is currently the biggest sporting facility in Nigeria and is also ranked highly among the biggest stadiums in Africa.

It is a multi-purpose venue in Abuja and usually hosts the national team's matches. Moshood Abiola National Stadium is also an important infrastructure for cultural, social, and religious events.

At the onset, Moshood Abiola Stadium was built to host the All-African Games in 2003. It is also one of the most expensive stadiums ever built in the world.  A record attendance at Moshood Abiola Stadium was on 1 June 2008, when Nigeria hosted South Africa. This was expected given the history of the football rivalry between Bafana Bafana of South Africa and Nigeria's Super Eagles.

Jos International Stadium

A capacity of 60,000 makes Jos International Stadium the second biggest sporting facility in Nigeria. The venue was opened in 2018, paving a new future for Nigeria's football culture.

Jos International Stadium has played host to several teams in Nigeria's Super League, including Plateau United of the National Professional Football League. Plateau United sometimes play their home games at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos, Nigeria, a venue with a much lower seating capacity of 15,000.

Lagos International Stadium

The Lagos International Stadium holds the third spot on our list of the largest stadiums in Nigeria. It was constructed in 1976 due to the strong passion for football among Nigerians. Additionally, being the Federal capital at the time, Lagos ensured there was strong economic support for the project.

Lagos International Stadium is often used as the home ground for the Super Eagles and has hosted important matches, most notably the African Cup of Nations final in 1980. Note that the capacity of Lagos International Stadium was originally 55,000, but that has been reduced to 45,000.

Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium

Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium is a multipurpose sporting facility located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and undoubtedly one of the biggest football stadiums in the country.

The venue currently serves as the home ground for Rivers United in the Nigeria Professional Football League. It previously hosted home matches for Dolphins, a team that has since merged with Sharks F.C. to form Rivers United F.C.

Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, named after a former player, Adokiye Amiesimaka, who was part of the 1980 AFCON-winning squad, has a capacity of 35,000. It was opened in July 2015 during a well-attended Olympic qualifier match between Nigeria and Congo. The Super Eagles won the encounter 2-1.

Muhammadu Dikko Stadium

The next on our list of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria is the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, which is currently the home ground for Katsina United F.C. The stadium has a capacity of at least 30,000 seats. Muhammdu Dikko Stadium was designed by Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Limited, a company incorporated in Lagos, Nigeria.

Construction of Muhammadu Dikko Stadium started in the early 1990s, facing several delays along the way. It was to be completed later in 2013 and was first named Karkanda Stadium. However, in 2016, the venue was named after a 20th-century Emir of the state, Muhammadu Dikko.

Godswill Akpabio International Stadium

Godswill Akpabio is one of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria, with a capacity of 30,000. Formerly Akwa Ibom International Stadium, it often hosts national team matches. It is currently the home ground for Akwa United, a team that plays in Nigeria's top flight.

Construction of Godswill Akpabio Stadium began in 2012 when the contract was awarded and was completed two years later. The venue features state-of-the-art facilities, with its design inspired by the Allianz Arena.

Confluence Stadium

Now, in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria, is Confluence Stadium, which makes it to this list of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria. The ground is used by Kogi United and Confluence Queens of the National League and Women's Premier League, respectively. It boasts a seating capacity of 25,000, making it one of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria.

Confluence Stadium was constructed in 1998 and consequently upgraded to its current state, featuring modern sporting facilities. The venue previously served as the home ground for the Niger Tornadoes of the NPFL. It often hosts several religious as well as cultural events.

Obafemi Awolowo Stadium

Obamefi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, Nigeria, is a modern sporting facility and qualifies as one of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria. The venue boasts a seating capacity of 25,000. Obafemi Awolowo Stadium's location in Ibadan, Nigeria's third-most populous city, makes it ideal for sporting activities, especially football.

The venue was initially named Liberty Stadium to commemorate the country's independence. However, it was renamed to Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in 2010 to honour a chief who was the premier of the Western Region at the time. The stadium has hosted significant matches and events, including the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999 and the African Cup of Nations in 1980.

Teslim Balogun Stadium

Teslim Balogun Stadium is a versatile sports facility in Nigeria and one of the largest venues in the country. It is located in Surulere, a local government area in mainland Nigeria.  The venue was opened in 2007 and boasts a capacity of 24,352.

Balogun Stadium hosts matches for Nigeria's national rugby team. However, it sometimes hosts international football tournaments, as had been the case previously. A good example is the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009. In December 2012, the venue was the main ground for the national sports festival.

Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium

Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu State also makes this list of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria. The venue, which opened in 1959, currently hosts home matches for Enugu Rangers, a formidable outfit in Nigeria's Professional Football League. It was renovated in 1970.

Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, named after Nigeria's first president, has a capacity of 22,000. It is one of the oldest stadiums in Nigeria and boasts a rich history of hosting colourful cultural, political, and sporting events.

In 1999, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium hosted several FIFA World Youth Championships. Nigeria lost 3-1 to Mali in a quarterfinal clash at the venue. Another notable football tournament that has taken place at Mnadmdi Azikiwe Stadium is the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009.

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Stephen Keshi Stadium

Stephen Keshi Stadium is an open multi-purpose ground in Asaba,  Delta State, Nigeria. It was initially named Asaba Township Stadium and is a property of the local government.

With a capacity of 22,000, Stephen Keshi Stadium is on par with the Mnadi Azikiwe Stadium in terms of capacity but not as richly endowed with history as the latter. The stadium was renamed Stephen Keshi Stadium to honour a popular Nigerian football player who died in 2016.

The venue was commissioned in 2018 to host the African Championships in Athletics the same year. Today, it is undoubtedly one of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria.

Warri Township Stadium

Warry Wolves FC, a team in the Nigeria National League, play their matches at Warry Township Stadium. The multi-purpose venue boasts a capacity of 20,000.

Some of the most notable tournaments that have been held at the FIFA-approved venue are the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as the All-African Youth Athletics Championships in 2013. It also hosted the Women's African Football Championship in 2006.

Best stadium in Africa

Africa is home to some of the best football stadiums, many of which meet FIFA standards. From the West to the East and North to the South, the continent boasts a rich football culture, supported by world-class stadiums.

However, despite being a football powerhouse in Africa, only a few of Nigeria's stadiums are on par with top-rated pitches across the continent. Let's explore some of them.

FNB Stadium, South Africa

FNB Stadium, designed like a traditional African calabash, is a state-of-the-art facility that ranks among the best pitches in the world.

It hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup and remains an iconic venue over a decade later. Significant investments were made in 2009 in preparation for the World Cup, increasing the value of the stadium to $440 million. This investment made FNB Stadium one of the most expensive stadiums in the world. During the 2010 World Cup, the football ground was known as Soccer City.

The stadium features executive suites, underground parking for up to 4000 VIP vehicles, a museum for football lovers, hospitality suites and executive lounges. With these features and a seating plan that keeps fans close to the pitch, FNB Stadium offers an electrifying matchday experience.

New Administrative Stadium, Egypt

Situated in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, this stadium is a modern architectural wonder and a premier football venue in Africa.

The New Administrative Stadium is now the second-biggest football venue on the continent and features a breathtaking bowl design. The 93,000-capacity stadium includes world-class facilities such as two indoor halls, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and a training ground.

Access to the ground is currently very limited due to ongoing construction work in and around the stadium. However, initial glimpses reveal that the stadium is equipped with cutting-edge LED lighting technology and is part of a larger sports complex located at the heart of Egypt's new city.

More notable features of the New Administrative Stadium include a high-end sound system and a jumbotron that should give you an immersive stadium experience on matchdays.

Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Nigeria

Although the seating capacity of Godswill Akpabio International Stadium is nearly half that of the largest stadium in Nigeria, its futuristic design makes it an exceptional sporting facility.

Formerly Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium features exceptional facilities such as a presidential suite, two electronic scoreboards, and a fully equipped medical centre. Other outstanding features include a 5000-capacity park, a 700-capacity car park and a media centre.

Ibn Batouta Stadium, Morocco

As Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup, the country has some of the best football stadiums in Africa. The Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier meets FIFA standards for hosting international tournaments.

The multi-use venue mostly hosts football matches and has a huge capacity of 65,000.

Ibn Batouta Stadium stands out as a world-class venue, thanks to features such as undersoil heating, VIP lounges and medical facilities. The stadium is currently undergoing renovations to increase its capacity to 87,000 in preparation for the 2025 AFCON and 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Cairo International Stadium

Cairo International is not only home to one of Egypt's most successful clubs but is also always ranked among the biggest and best pitches in Africa. The venue has a massive capacity of 75,000 and has been used on several occasions to host both continental and international football matches.

For example, in 1974, the venue hosted the African Cup of Nations Finals, a game that Zaire (presently Congo DR) won 2-0 against Zambia. Later in 1986, the stadium was again used to host another AFCON Final and this time, the hosts thrashed Cameroon 5-4 in penalties in a game that ended 0-0.

Several other high-profile matches have been played at Cairo International Stadium, all of which point to the high standards that the facility represents in the world of sports. It hosted the AFCON final in 2005 and several round-of-16 and quarter-finals matches in 2019.

FIFA World Cup qualifiers and CAF Champions League matches have also been staged at the venue. Notably, Cairo International is ranked as one of the stadiums with the best atmospheres in Africa. The structural features of this venue and modernisation efforts have turned it into an iconic venue, not to mention its prime location at the heart of Cairo.