10 biggest stadiums in Africa with their seating capacities

Nancy Marende

Curious to find out the biggest stadiums in Africa? Or even where is the largest stadium in Africa located? Then you have come to the right place.

Africa is a football-loving continent; therefore, for teams to satisfy their fan’s quest for the game, dozens of magnificent stadiums are constructed across the nations.

Some of the biggest stadiums in Africa by capacity, like FNB, also boosts as being the most expensive too. This is due to their unique and beautiful architectural designs.

From South Africa’s Soccer City to Egypt’s Borg El Arab Stadium, we shall discuss the biggest stadiums in Africa, including their location, seating capacities and more.

 1. FNB Stadium

FNB Stadium
FNB Stadium. Image: Wikipedia/ProstheticHead
  • Seating Capacity: 94,736
  • Location: Stadium Avenue, Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • Home club or Team: Kaizer Chiefs, South African national football team
  • Opened: 1989

FNB Stadium, commonly called Soccer City, tops the list of the biggest stadiums in Africa. It also ranks as the 7th largest stadium in the World.

The South Africa stadium has a seating capacity of 94,736 people and is the home playing ground for the South African national team and Kaizer Chiefs.

With a construction cost of $440 million, Soccer City is one of the most expensive stadiums in Africa and the world.

FNB has hosted several international football matches, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

2. Borg el-Arab Stadium

Borg el-Arab Stadium
Borg el-Arab Stadium. Image: Wikipedia/Abdelrhman1990
  • Seating Capacity: 86,000
  • Location: Amreya, Alexandria, Egypt
  • Home club or Team: Egypt national team, Smouha
  • Opened: 2009

With a seating capacity of 86,000 people, the Bog El-Arab Stadium is the largest football stadium in Egypt and 9th in the world.

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Designed and constructed by the Egyptian Armed Forces engineers, the stadium comes second in Africa after FNB Stadium.

This magnificent stadium is air-conditioned and consists of the main arena, a running track, 2 training sub-stadiums, a 200+ bed hotel, and many more facilities. 

In 2010 Bog El-Arab Stadium was among those included by Egypt in their bid to host the FIFA World Cup but lost to South Africa.

Since then, the stadium has hosted several international and national matches, including the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

3. Cairo International Stadium

Cairo International Stadium
Cairo International Stadium. Image: Wikipedia/Crosskimo
  • Seating Capacity: 75,000
  • Location: Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
  • Home club or Team: Egypt national football team, Al Ahly, Zamalek
  • Opened: 1960

Originally called Nasser Stadium, Cairo International Stadium is the second largest in Egypt, with a seating capacity 75,000.

This all-seater stadium was designed by the famous German architect Werner March and inaugurated in 1960.

Besides being the home ground for Egypt’s national football team, Al Ahly and Zamalek, the stadium has hosted multiple international matches.

It was the hosting ground for the 1991 All-Africa Games and the 2006 and 2019 African Cup of Nations competitions.

4. Stade Mohammed V

 Stade Mohammed V
Stade Mohammed V. Image: Wikipedia/KSKB1935
  • Seating Capacity: 67,000
  • Location: Casablanca, Morroco
  • Home club or Team: Morocco national football team, Wydad Casablanca, Raja Casablanca
  • Opened: 1955

This is the oldest multi-use stadium in Morocco and one of the largest in Africa, with a sitting capacity of 67000.

The stadium was established in 1955 and has undergone several renovations to host major tournaments.

Mohammed Stade V was a 30,000-seater stadium when first inaugurated. Then it was upgraded to 90,000 seats in the 90s when preparing to hold the Mediterranean Games in 1983.

This seating capacity would later be reduced to 67,000 when the stadium underwent major adjustments in anticipation of holding the 2010 FIFA world cup. 

5. Mogadishu Stadium

Mogadishu Stadium
Mogadishu Stadium. Image: Wikipedia/Abdi Maxamed
  • Seating Capacity: 65,000
  • Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
  • Home club or Team: Somali national football team, Somali League
  • Opened: 1977
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Mogadishu Stadium was constructed in 1977 by the Somali government and has a seating capacity of 65,000. The stadium is found in Somalia’s capital city Mogadishu.

During the 90s, the stadium had little football activity going on as it was used by the armed forces when the country was under a civil war.

In the early 2000s, FIFA initiated the renovations of the Mogadishu Stadium when they first commissioned the construction of the artificial turf.

The government continued the renovations of the stadium in partnership with a Chinese firm which was completed in 2015.

6. Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecote

Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecote
Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecote. Image: Wikipedia/ Antoine Moens de Hase
  • Seating Capacity: 64,200
  • Location: Kinshasa, DR Congo
  • Home club or Team: DR Congo national football team, As Vita Club, Daring Club Motema Pembe
  • Opened: 1994

Stade des Martyrs, formerly known as Stade Kamanyola, is the biggest stadium in DR Congo, with a seating capacity 60,000.

This stadium was renamed in 1997, in honour of four ministers hanged by Mobutu Sese Seko, after major renovations.

Stade des Martyrs has hosted numerous national tournaments, athletics competitions and cultural concerts.

It is currently the home playing ground for DR Congo national team, Daring Club Motema Pembe and AS Vita club.

7. Stade du 5 Juillet

Stade du 5 Juillet
Stade du 5 Juillet. Image: Wikipedia/BillalHaddadi
  • Seating Capacity: 64,000
  • Location: Algiers, Algeria.
  • Home club or Team: USM Alger, Algeria national football team
  • Opened: 1972

The stadium was named after the 5th of July 1962, when Algeria obtained independence.

Stade du Juillet is a multipurpose stadium and one of the largest in Africa, with a seating capacity of 64,000.

The stadium is the home playing ground for the Algeria national team and the USM Alger. Stade du Juillet has been used to host several international tournaments, including the 1975 Mediterranean Games and the 2004 Pan Arab Games.

Additionally, the stadium was used to host the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations match and the 1978 and 2007 All-Africa Games tournaments.

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8. Moshood Abiola National Stadium

Moshood Abiola National Stadium
Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Image: Wikipedia/Theonlywesleyyouknow
  • Seating Capacity: 60,491
  • Location: Abuja, Nigeria.
  • Home club or Team: Nigeria national football team
  • Opened: 2003

The Moshood Abiola National Stadium is the largest in Nigeria, with a seating capacity of 60,491. The stadium was formerly known as the National Stadium.

This Nigerian multiple-use stadium was renamed by former president Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. This was after major renovations to host the 2003 All-Africa Games tournament.

In addition to being one of the biggest stadiums in West Africa, Moshood Abiola is also one of the most expensive stadiums in Africa.

Its construction cost is a whopping $360 million. The stadium is also one of the most stunning stadiums in the world with its unique architectural design.

9. Moi International Sports Center

Moi International Sports Center
Moi International Sports Center
  • Seating Capacity: 60,000
  • Location: Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Home club or Team: Kenya national football team, Mathare United F.C, Tusker F.C.
  • Opened: 1987

The Moi International Sports Center is the largest stadium in Kenya and one of the biggest in East Africa.

The multi-use stadium has a sitting capacity of 60,000 people plus a VIP and Press Lounge. This multi-purpose stadium is located in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, in Kasarani Constituency, hence the reason why it’s also referred to as Kasarani Stadium.

Besides the main arena used for football and rugby matches, Moi International Sports Center has a running track, a large swimming pool, a 100+ bed hotel and an indoor arena.

The stadium has hosted three major international matches, the 1987 All-Africa Games, the 2017 World U1 Championships in Athletics and the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships.

The stadium has been the home of the Safari Sevens since 2013.

10. Tanzania National Main Stadium

Tanzania National Main Stadium
Tanzania National Main Stadium. Image: Wikipedia/Raidarmax
  • Seating Capacity: 60,000
  • Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  • Home club or Team: Tanzania national football team, Simba S.C, Young Africans S.C.
  • Opened: 2007

The Stadium is also known as Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and was inaugurated in 2007.

With a seating capacity of 60,000, Tanzania National Main Stadium is the largest football stadium in Tanzania.

Like Kenya’s Moi International Sports Center, Tanzania National Stadium is also one of the largest stadiums in East Africa.

Besides, it boasts as one of the most expensive stadiums in Africa, with a construction cost of $56 million.

Benjamin Mkapa stadium is the home ground for the Tanzania national football team, Simba S.C, and the Young Africans S.C.

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