Stade Ahmed Zabana – stadium description

When it was built in 1950s, it received the name of then mayor Henri Foques-Duprac. The French patron was overthrown soon after as Algeria gained independence. Later the ground was called Stade 19 Juin 1965, commemorating coup d'etat, while now it bears the name of Ahmed Zabana, local revolutionist.

Though the names were changing, the stadium remains almost as it was in 1950s. Its most distinctive feature is the shape: when seen from above it resembles the letter D, having two rounded curves and two corners. The corners (west) were used to accommodate floodlight masts (inside the bowl, obstructing view), while on the opposite side masts were located outside the bowl. This hasn't changed until 2008, when new masts were built, all outside the stadium. The stands were refurbished as well and in 2013 seats were installed, with the capacity dropping to 32,000.

The capacity used to be around 40,000 in the beginning. That doesn't mean that larger crowds weren't seen here, like in the exhibition game of Algeria and Brazil in 1965, seen by 60,000 people.

The stadium hosted many festive games with domestic finals or friendlies, like the opening game, when Real Madrid were formally hosts.