Charles Konan Banny Stadium

Charles Konan Banny Stadium (French: Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro) is a football stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast that was inaugurated on 3 June 2022.^[1][2][3] This was the fourth among the six stadiums for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.^[4] It was designed by an association formed of Alcor, Sogea-Satom, Egis and Baudin Chateauneuf.^[5]

Charles Konan Banny Stadium

Location	Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast
Coordinates	6°49′43″N 5°14′47″W
Owner	Government of Ivory Coast
Operator	Département de Yamoussoukro
Capacity	20,000
Field size	105m x 68m
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	19 October 2018
Built	11 June 2021
Opened	3 June 2022
Construction cost	XOF 47 billion ($76 million)
Architect	SCAU Architectes
General contractor	Sogea Atom
Main contractors	Vinci SA
Tenants
SOA (2023–present) Ivory Coast national football team (selected matches)

History

On 19 October 2018, the stadium was broke ground by Ivorian Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly.^[6] In anticipation of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, But On 30 November 2018, CAF stripped Cameroon of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations because of delays in the construction of stadiums and other necessary infrastructure;^[7] it was relocated to Egypt.^[8] CAF President at the time, Ahmad Ahmad, said that Cameroon had agreed to host the 2021 tournament instead.^[9] Consequently, Ivory Coast, original hosts of 2021, will host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. On 30 January 2019, the CAF President confirmed the timetable shift, after a meeting with Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.^[10] Which gave the government more time to improve and test the state of the stadium, On 11 June 2021, the Stadium was handed over to the Yamoussoukro Municipality and will host Ligue 1 games. like SO de l'Armée team who plays its matches on this stadium^[11] The stadium is expected to host many matches of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations next to other five stadiums are all appointed to host this competition.

Construction

Stadium of Yamoussoukro in Construction, August 11, 2020

SCAU, in partnership with Sogea Satom, Alcor, Baudin Chateauneuf, and Egis, was delighted to take on the design and construction for the Charles Konan Banny Stadium Stadium. Situated on the eastern flank of the city, SCAU adopted a unique approach in crafting a stadium that seamlessly marries monumentality and minimalism. This duality serves a dual purpose: first, to project a powerful image of Ivory Coast that transcends borders, and second, to ensure the construction of a cost-effective, enduring facility. The Ivory Coast has grappled with the issue of inadequate stadium maintenance, making longevity and budget-friendliness paramount concerns.

The western stand serves as the nucleus of the stadium's amenities, while the remaining three stands are thoughtfully nestled into the natural slope of the site, reducing the need for excessive structural maintenance. This design also enhances the thrill of arriving at a match, as spectators ascend to the highest point of the stands, commanding a panoramic view of the entire stadium before descending to their seats, drawing closer to the pitch. A sweeping roof gracefully spans all stands, adapting its height to accommodate the spaces beneath while drawing attention towards the vibrant action on the field. Floodlight lamps are ingeniously affixed to the roof in the west, while two independent masts grace the eastern side. Thoughtfully positioned catering facilities and restrooms dot the public concourse, evoking an elegant, scattered arrangement. As is customary with SCAU's stadium designs, meticulous consideration was given to the stadium's post-event life. Recognizing that a stadium's heritage is pivotal to its sustainability and upkeep, SCAU collaborated with local sports and educational organizations to envision how these spaces might be utilized on a daily basis, long after the conclusion of the African Cup. Despite the spread COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, efforts were made to continue the construction of the stadium.^[12] The construction was completed in summer 2021.^[13]

Handover and opening

Stadium from outside grounds

The inauguration was supposed to be held in September 2021. However the Confederation of African Football found some shortcomings about the stadium, mainly in terms of security, and the matches involving the Ivory Coast national football team had to be moved elsewhere.^[14] The stadium was inaugurated on 3 June 2022, during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification and the match between Ivory Coast and Zambia. Ivory Coast won 3–1.^[13] the Stadium was named after the processor of President Alassane Ouattara former president Charles Konan Banny who served as prime minister from 7 December 2005 until 4 April 2007, who died from COVID-19, during the COVID-19 pandemic in France, following his evacuation from the Ivory Coast. He was 78.^[15]

2023 Africa Cup of Nations

The stadium was one of the venues for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The following matches were played at the stadium:

Date	Time (GMT)	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Spectators
15 January 2024	14:00	Senegal	3–0	Gambia	Group C	7,896
15 January 2024	17:00	Cameroon	1–1	Guinea	Group C	11,271
19 January 2024	17:00	Senegal	3–1	Cameroon	Group C	19,176
19 January 2024	20:00	Guinea	1–0	Gambia	Group C	19,822
23 January 2024	17:00	Guinea	0–2	Senegal	Group C	15,753
23 January 2024	20:00	Angola	2–0	Burkina Faso	Group D	15,753
29 January 2024	20:00	Senegal	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p)	Ivory Coast	Round of 16	19,948
3 February 2024	20:00	Cape Verde	0–0 (a.e.t.) (1–2 p)	South Africa	Quarter-finals	12,162

See also

• Association football portal

• List of football stadiums in Ivory Coast
• List of African stadiums by capacity
• List of association football stadiums by capacity

References

1. "CAN 2021 : la Côte d'Ivoire lance un appel d'offres pour la construction d'infrastructures sportives et d'hébergements" (in French). Abidjan.net. 20 September 2017.
2. "New design: Stade de Yamoussoukro for AFCON 2021". StadiumDB. 29 March 2018.
3. "SCAU REMPORTE LE CONCOURS DE CONCEPTION CONSTRUCTION DU STADE DE YAMOUSSOUKRO" (in French). SCAU Architectes. 7 March 2018.
4. "Amir inaugurates Al Janoub Stadium". thepeninsulaqatar.com. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
5. "COUP D'ENVOI POUR LE STADE DE YAMOUSSOUKRO" (in French). Sogea Satom. 6 March 2018.
6. "Amadou Gbon Coulibaly lance les travaux" (in French). Sport-Ivoire. 19 October 2018.
7. "Cameroon stripped of hosting 2019 Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
8. "Egypt named as 2019 Nations Cup hosts". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
9. "Caf: 'Cameroon accepts to host 2021 Afcon'". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
10. "COTE D'IVOIRE AGREES CAF TIMETABLE SHIFT". CAF. 30 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
11. Bourse, Zone. "Vinci : livraison du stade de Yamoussoukro en Côte d'Ivoire | Zone bourse". www.zonebourse.com (in French). Retrieved 2021-06-11.
12. "Prêt pour la CAN 2023 : le stade de Yamoussoukro" (in French). Ambassade de France. 9 August 2020.
13. "Stade de Yamoussoukro inaugurated". Stadium DB. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
14. "Stade de Yamoussoukro". Stadium DB. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
15. "Former I. Coast PM dies of coronavirus". 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.