National Stadium, Lagos

6°29′49″N 3°21′53″E

National Stadium, Lagos

Full name	National Stadium
Former names	Surulere Stadium
Location	Surulere, Lagos
Owner	Nigerian government
Capacity	55,000 (1972) 45,000 (1999)
Record attendance	85,000
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	1961
Opened	1961
Renovated	1972, 2024
Expanded	1972
Architect	Isaac Fola-Alade
Project manager	Albino Luigino Davanzo
Tenants
Cowrie Rugby Football Club (rugby union)

Side view of the Indoor Sports Complex

The Lagos National Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. It comprises an Olympic-size swimming arena and a multipurpose arena used for athletics, rugby union, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, wrestling and boxing matches. It was used mostly for football matches until 2004. It has hosted several international competitions, including the 1980 African Cup of Nations final, the 2000 African Cup of Nations final, and FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. It also served as the main stadium for the 1973 All-Africa Games.^[1][2]

History

When the stadium was built in 1972, it had a capacity of 55,000.^[3] The capacity was later reduced to 45,000 in 1999. The highest attendance, 85,000, was recorded in the final match of the African Cup of Nations in 1980 between Nigeria and Algeria.^[4]

Its 50-meter pool was closed in 1999.^[5]

For unknown reasons, the National Stadium had been left in dilapidated state since the early 2000s until 2022 when the FG began renovation work at the stadium.^[6] It last hosted a national team game in 2004, with football matches moved to the nearby Teslim Balogun Stadium.^[7] It is now occasionally used for religious gatherings^[8] and has been taken over by area boys^[9] and squatters.^[10] In 2009, the National Sports Commission begun a concerted effort to bring the facility back to world class status.^[11]

Notable football events

1980 African Cup of Nations

Date	Team 1	Result	Team 2	Round
8 March 1980	Nigeria	3–1	Tanzania	Group A
	Egypt	2–1	Ivory Coast
12 March 1980	Egypt	2–1	Tanzania
	Nigeria	0–0	Ivory Coast
15 March 1980	Ivory Coast	1–1	Tanzania
	Nigeria	1–0	Egypt
19 March 1980	Nigeria	1–0	Morocco	Semifinal
21 March 1980	Morocco	2–0	Egypt	Third place match
22 March 1980	Nigeria	3–0	Algeria	Final

1999 FIFA World Youth Championship

Date	Team 1	Result	Team 2	Attendance	Round
2 April 1999	Nigeria	1–1	Costa Rica	37,500	Group A
4 April 1999	Germany	4–0	Paraguay	2,500
7 April 1999	Nigeria	2–0	Germany	20,000
	Costa Rica	1–3	Paraguay	18,000
10 April 1999	Nigeria	1–2	Paraguay	25,000
	Costa Rica	2–1	Germany	22,000
14 April 1999	Paraguay	2–2 (a.e.t.) (9–10 p)	Uruguay	1,500	Round of 16
18 April 1999	Uruguay	2–1	Brazil	10,000	Quarter-final
21 April 1999	Uruguay	1–2	Japan	8,000	Semi-final
24 April 1999	Mali	1–0	Uruguay	35,000	Third place play-off
	Spain	4–0	Japan	38,000	Final

2000 African Cup of Nations

Date	Team 1	Result	Team 2	Attendance	Round
23 January 2000	Nigeria	4–2	Tunisia	80,000	Group D
25 January 2000	Morocco	1–0	Congo	8,000
28 January 2000	Nigeria	0–0	Congo	60,000
29 January 2000	Tunisia	0–0	Morocco	5,000
1 February 2000	Zambia	2–2	Senegal	2,000	Group C
3 February 2000	Nigeria	2–0	Morocco	60,000	Group D
7 February 2000	Nigeria	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Senegal		Quarterfinal
10 February 2000	Nigeria	2–0	South Africa		Semifinal
13 February 2000	Nigeria	2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p)	Cameroon		Final

See also

• List of football stadiums in Nigeria

Architecture

The National Stadium was designed by Fola Alade Associates in the year 1970. Construction and supervision took place between 1971 and 1973 by Fola Alade the architect who designed the stadium, before the All African games that happened in 1973 you can find more details here. The stadium was used as the major sporting facility for the games.^[1]

Gallery

• 
  Pan African Games Lagos January 7–18, 1973. Runners in the starting position on courts
• 
  Swimming Pool In National Stadium Lagos