Bahir Dar Stadium, a multi-purpose venue in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, is currently undergoing significant renovation and reconstruction. The project, which has a budget of 2.2 billion Ethiopian birr, is being carried out by the Ethiopian construction company MIDROC and the French firm Gregori. The goal is to have the work fully completed by the end of 2026 to meet the minimum standards set by CAF and FIFA.
Originally constructed by MIDROC Ethiopia starting in 2008 and completed in 2015, the stadium has a capacity of 52,000 spectators. It quickly became a significant venue, hosting its first international matches in February 2015. Notable early events included a CAF Confederation Cup match between Dedebit F.C. and Cote d'or of Seychelles, and an Africa Cup of Nations qualification match between Ethiopia and Lesotho that drew more than 70,000 spectators.
The stadium served as a home venue for the Ethiopian national team and hosted large music concerts, such as Teddy Afro's 'Wede Fikir Guzo' in 2018. However, in October 2021, CAF suspended the stadium from hosting international competitions because it failed to meet at least seven key requirements, including inadequate medical facilities and insufficient VIP, media, and training centers.
To address these issues, the Amhara regional government and the Federal government of Ethiopia began the reconstruction process. Once finished, the Bahir Dar Stadium is anticipated to meet CAF Category 4 standards, making it a premier venue for prestigious African club competitions, national team matches, and events such as the Africa Cup of Nations.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Mutabor
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