The upcoming qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup promise to deliver exciting encounters, with the stadiums playing a crucial role in shaping the overall spectacle. Africa Top Sports invites you to explore the five venues that will host the first legs of these highly anticipated matches:
- August 4 Stadium, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Date: October 12
- Fixture: Burkina Faso vs. Algeria
- Inaugurated in 1984, the August 4 Stadium boasts an athletics track and a capacity for 40,000 spectators. It played host to the 1998 CAN final, where Egypt emerged victorious against South Africa with a 2-0 scoreline.
- Félix Houphouët Boigny Stadium, Ivory Coast
- Date: October 12
- Fixture: Ivory Coast vs. Senegal
- Named after a former president, this stadium, opened in 1952, accommodates up to 50,000 spectators. Despite a tragic incident in 2009, it remains a venue for high-profile matches. It witnessed Cameroon’s victory over Nigeria in the 1984 CAN final.
- Addis Ababa Stadium, Ethiopia
- Date: October 13
- Fixture: Ethiopia vs. Nigeria
- The oldest among the five stadiums, Addis Ababa Stadium opened in 1940. With a seating capacity of 35,000, it features an athletics track. Expansion plans are in place to increase capacity to 60,000 starting next year.
- Radès Olympic Stadium, Tunisia
- Date: October 13
- Fixture: Tunisia vs. Cameroon
- Inaugurated in 2001 and renovated in 2005, Radès Olympic Stadium is one of the continent’s most modern venues. It hosted the 2004 CAN final, where Tunisia secured victory over Morocco with a 1-0 scoreline. The stadium is home to clubs like Esperance de Tunis and Club Africain.
- Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Ghana
- Date: October 15
- Fixture: Ghana vs. Egypt.
