Mogadishu Stadium – stadium description

What is the history of Mogadishu Stadium?

When was Mogadishu Stadium built?

Mogadishu Stadium was built in the 1970s with the help of the Chinese government. The facility opened in late 1977: two matches of the (youth and senior) Somali national team against Chinese club Liaoning FC were held on November 15 and 20, and then, in late November and early December, the new stadium hosted the CECAFA Cup tournament.

The facility was built to be the largest in the country and was the de facto Somali national stadium. In the early days, the venue was bustling with activity: it hosted numerous sports and cultural events, as well as political rallies.

How did Mogadishu Stadium become a base for various armed groups?

The situation changed after the outbreak of civil war, especially after 1991, when the country's long-time president, Siad Barre, was overthrown and the stadium was closed. From 1993 to 1995, the facility served as a military base for US and Pakistani peacekeepers, and its infrastructure suffered heavily during this time.

The stadium was restored to use in 1995 but was closed again in 2004. Between 2007 and 2009, the facility was the main base for Ethiopian troops stationed in Mogadishu. In turn, it was under the control of Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants from 2009 to 2011, and from 2012 to 2018 African Union peacekeepers stationed there.

When was Mogadishu Stadium restored to life?

After the troops left the facility, another attempt was made to bring the devastated stadium back to life. The venue was renovated, and a new pitch with artificial turf was made in the first half of 2020.

Thanks to the upgrade, sporting events returned to the stadium. On July 17, 2021, the venue was filled to capacity during a high-profile match in the Somali league between Horseed SC and Mogadishu City Club (0–0). According to reports, 65,000-70,000 people were present in the stands.

On October 13, 2024, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre inaugurated another, more comprehensive upgrade of the stadium.

What does Mogadishu Stadium look like?

The stadium has an oval shape, with space for a pitch and an athletics track inside the stands. The stands are single-level, and their capacity is set at 65,000 spectators, although it should be added that they are devoid of individual seating. The stadium also has artificial lighting.

Thanks to its size, the stadium is the largest in the country and could serve as a national stadium. However, due to various turmoil, the Somali national team has not played there since 1986.