Whenever we talk of football made in Africa, Nigeria comes to mind as a country that has made great strides in developing sporting infrastructure.
From the biggest stadiums in Nigeria to the many talented players who left an indelible mark on the beautiful game, this post focuses on the largest football stadiums in the West African country.
Notably, the pace of stadium development in Nigeria has been unmatched in many aspects, which has greatly helped the country secure hosting rights for some of the biggest football tournaments on the continent.
For example, Nigeria hosted the African Cup of Nations in 1980 and 2000, thanks to FIFA-approved football infrastructure that was already constructed. Hosting AFCON twice in the past showcased the biggest stadiums in Nigeria, further solidifying the country's position on the regional and global football stage.
Other notable football competitions that the biggest stadiums in Nigeria have hosted include the FIFA World Youth Championship, African Women's Championships, All African Games, WAFU Nations Cup and Afro-Asian Championship. The list is a long one.
According to the standards set by FIFA, hosting regional or international football tournaments is contingent upon having stadiums with the ideal seating capacity and social facilities. Nigeria has consistently met and exceeded these requirements. Now, let's take a closer look at the largest stadiums in Nigeria.
A table of the biggest stadiums in Nigeria
Stadium | Team | Capacity |
---|---|---|
Mashood Abiola National Stadium |
Nigeria National Football Team |
60, 491 |
Jos International Stadium |
Plateau United F.C. |
60,000 |
Lagos International Stadium |
Nigeria National Football Team |
55,000 |
Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium |
Rivers United F.C. |
40,000 |
Muhammadu Dikko Stadium |
Katsina United F.C. |
35,000 |
Godswill Akpabio International Stadium |
Akwa United |
30,000 |
Confluence Stadium |
Kogi United/Confluence Queens |
25,000 |
Obafemi Awolowo Stadium |
25,00 |
|
Teslim Balogun Stadium |
First Bank F.C. |
24, 325 |
Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium |
Enugu Rangers |
22,000 |
Stephen Keshi Stadium |
22,000 |
|
Warri Township Stadium |
Warri Wolves F.C. |
20,000 |
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 the capital of Abuja and plays host to Nigeria's National Team. 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 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 Nationals 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 Shark's 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 Muhammdu 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 later completed in 2013 and 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 play in Nigeria's top flight.
Construction of Godswill Akpabio Stadium began in 2012 when the contract was awarded and completed two years later. The venue features state-of-the-art facilities, with its design inspired by the Allianz Arena.
Confluence Stadium
Now, to Lokoja in 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 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 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.
One of Nigeria's biggest football derbies
The Oriental Derby between Enyima and Enugu Rangers is sold out at 22,000 capacity Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/1ZjcNQTyBZ
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) June 9, 2024
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 Mnadi Azikiwe Stadium in terms of capacity but not as richly endowed with history as the latter. The stadium was renamed Stephen Keshi 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.