Afcon 2023: Guide to Stade de Paix in Bouaké

Purpose-built for the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations and now renovated ahead of Afcon 2023, the Stade de Paix in Bouaké will host one of the semi-finals at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on 13 January 2024.

History of the Stade de Paix

A 40,000-capacity arena constructed for the 1984 African Cup of the Nations, the Stade de Paix – which has not always been called such – has been recently renovated in anticipation of Afcon 2023.

The Stade de la Paix hosted seven games at the African Cup of Nations in 1984, including the third-place match.

The stadium gained infamy through the testimonies of Bouaké residents who alleged that it was used as an execution site by the New Forces during the country's civil war.

In 2007, the stadium hosted a match of enormous significance, with the Ivory Coast vs Madagascar fixture being part of the Ouagadougou Agreement to assert peace in the country. This defines the stadium's names: Stadium of the Peace.

The Stade de Paix now serves as the home ground for three major clubs: ASC Bouaké, Alliance Bouaké and Bouaké FC. The city has a population of 740,000.

How much did the Stadium of Peace Bouake cost?

A major renovation was undertaken in 2007 and a further renovation from 2018-2020 and in 2023. The stadium is now the second-largest in the country with the capacity increased from 25,000 to 40,000 and the plans have involved removing the athletics track and adding a roof.

Undergoing renovation prior to Afcon 2023, the latest building work at the Stadium of Peace has been overseen by Mota-Engil, a Portuguese company.

🔴Le stade de la paix de bouaké🇨🇮#cotedivoire pic.twitter.com/jMQpegrA7c

— Archigenie_afrik🟧 (@archigenieafrik) March 12, 2023

Where is the Stade de Paix?

The Stade de la Paix is located in the central city of Bouaké, the second-largest in Ivory Coast.

The name is derived from the stadium's role in peace in Ivory Coast. Football played an enormous role in ending the country's civil war and the Bouaké ground hosted the Ivory Coast vs Madagascar fixture in 2007, which was part t of the Ouagadougou Agreement to assert peace in the country. This defines the stadium's name: Stadium of the Peace.

Afcon 2023 fixtures at the Stade de Paix

Date	Time (GMT)	‘Home' team	Result	‘Away' team	Round
15 January 2024	20:00	Algeria	–	Angola	Group D
16 January 2024	14:00	Burkina Faso	–	Mauritania	Group D
20 January 2024	14:00	Algeria	–	Burkina Faso	Group D
20 January 2024	17:00	Mauritania	–	Angola	Group D
23 January 2024	17:00	Gambia	–	Cameroon	Group C
23 January 2024	20:00	Mauritania	–	Algeria	Group D
27 January 2024	17:00	Winner Group D	–	3rd Group B-E-F	Round of 16
3 February 2024	17:00	Winner R7	–	Winner R6	Quarter-finals
7 February 2024	17:00	Winner QF1	–	Winner QF4	Semi-finals

What is the largest stadium in Africa?

The Stade de la Paix in Bouaké has had a considerable increase in its capacity, from 25,000 to 40,000, but it still doesn't rank near the largest stadiums in Africa.