Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly – stadium description

How did the new stadium in Korhogo come about?

In 2014, Côte d'Ivoire was awarded the right to host the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (after subsequent reshuffling of the hosts of several consecutive editions, Côte d'Ivoire will eventually host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which, contrary to its name, will be held in January and February 2024).

In 2016, construction of the national stadium on the outskirts of Abidjan got underway, and in September 2017, the government issued five further tenders for the upgrading and/or construction of new stadiums being prepared for the tournament. Among the three stadiums to be built completely from scratch, one was planned in Korhogo, the capital of the Poro region in the north of the country.

When was the new stadium in Korhogo built?

The first work started in late 2018/early 2019, with the official ground-breaking ceremony taking place on May 18, 2019. The main contractor was the Chinese company China National Building Material (CNBM). The concept for the new stadium was prepared by EGPI from France. The investment cost was 50.02 billion CFA francs.

After whom was the new stadium in Korhogo named?

Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire from 2017 to 2020, who died in office, was chosen as the patron of the stadium in Korhogo. The decision to name the stadium after him was taken in July 2020, a few days after the Prime Minister's death.

When did the new stadium in Korhogo open?

On November 4, 2023, a ceremony was held at the stadium to mark the opening of the new facility, during which a symbolic key to the stadium was handed over to the authorities. A day later, the new stadium hosted the first two matches, inaugurating the final tournament of the CAF Women's Champions League, which was scheduled between November 5 to 19, 2023 at the new venues in Korhogo and San-Pédro. The venue in Korhogo opened as the last of six stadiums prepared for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

What does the Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly look like?

The stadium is located in the southern suburb of Korhogo, on the main exit road. It is the first large and modern stadium in the city. The facility has a tartan athletics track, surrounded by single-tier stands capable of holding 20,000 spectators. The stands are fully covered by a roof, which is higher on the east side (higher stands) and the west side (due to the box building).

There are plastic seats in the auditorium, forming a mosaic of the colors of the national flag. Some space has been left between the curves of the running track and the stands behind them. Two video screens are mounted on the curves, and four floodlighting masts have been erected outside the building, behind the corners. Two thousand parking spaces have been created around the venue.