Olembe Stadium
The stadium during 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Full nameStade Omnisport Paul Biya
LocationOlembe, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Coordinates03°57′03″N 11°32′26″E / 3.95083°N 11.54056°E / 3.95083; 11.54056
OwnerCameroonian Football Federation
Capacity60,000
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
SurfaceGrass
ScoreboardYes
Construction
Built2018–2021
Opened3 September 2021 (2021-09-03)
Construction cost163 billion CFA
ArchitectStudio SHESA architects - arch. Suarez
Structural engineerMJW structures
Services engineerBeta Progetti
General contractorGruppo Piccini S.A.
Tenants
Cameroon national football team (2021–present)

Paul Biya Omnisports Stadium (named for the long-ruling president of Cameroon), referred to as the Olembe Stadium and Sport Complex (Stade d'Olembé), is a multi-purpose stadium spanning 84 acres (400,000 sq.m) in Olembé locality, Yaoundé. It is the largest stadium in Cameroon by capacity, holding 60,000 spectators, and is the 9th-largest stadium in Africa by the same measure. Located roughly 13 km from Yaoundé city-centre, the stadium is part of a complex which includes two annex stadia training grounds; a gymnasium with handball, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts; an Olympic-size swimming pool; a shopping mall, museum and cinema; and 5-star hotel with 70 rooms available.[1]

Olembe Stadium was one of the locations chosen to host the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations held in Cameroon, which took place in 2022 because of pandemic-related postponements. It held the opening ceremony and game – which the Cameroon team won 2–1 against Burkina Faso – and the closing ceremony and final, which was held between Senegal and Egypt; Senegal won the tournament.

Construction and Development

As Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi oversaw the project.

The stadium's official construction cost is put at around $284 million (163 billion CFA) [2] following some financing controversy.[3] The complex is reported to have encouraged the development of other otherwise unutilised areas, with new roads, eating and drinking establishments, hostels, and play grounds among other facilities.[4]

The intended official delivery of first-phase construction, including the main stadium, when the Cameroonian Football Federation would take ownership of the facility, was meant to occur on the 30th November 2021, postponed first to the 3rd December, 2021, but was postponed again. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had expressed concerns throughout the construction process about the pace of completion.[5]

The second-phase of construction, covering the swimming pool and other sports courts, is intended to be completed after the end of AFCON.[6]

The steel-roof of the main stadium, which is decorated in the colours of Cameroon's flag, was designed by Maeg,[7] who specialise in steel structures.

The first match held at the Stadium was on 3 September 2021: a FIFA World Cup African Qualifier game between Cameroon and Malawi, which Cameroon won 2–0.

2022 Africa Cup of Nations Tragedy

Before a Round of 16 match between Cameroon and Comoros, a deadly crowd crush occurred at one of the stadium's entrance gates, killing eight people and injuring thirty-eight.[8] The following game was moved to Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium. The disaster reignited the long-time debate about security and safety in Africa's stadiums.

References

  1. ↑ Anchunda, Benly (2021-02-16). "Olembe Stadium: FCFA 55 billion Convention to ensure completion". Cameroon Radio Television (in French). Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  2. ↑ "Olembe tragedy scars legacy of Cameroon's Cup of Nations". France 24. 2022-02-06. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  3. ↑ Tourism, Business in Cameroon, Economie, Banking, Energy, Comms, Media, Law, Insurance, Public management. "Olembe Sports Complex: Current construction costs could exceed estimates by over XAF24 bln". Business in Cameroon. Retrieved 2022-04-01. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Anchunda, Benly (2021-10-29). "2021 TotalEnergies AFCON: Olembe Stadium breeds a bustling city". Cameroon Radio Television (in French). Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  5. ↑ "CAF: Véron Mosengo-Omba FIFA's point man in Africa". The Africa Report.com. 2022-01-14. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  6. ↑ "Olembe Sports Complex phase 1 construction nears completion,Cameroon". Construction Review Online. 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  7. ↑ "Maeg - Building ideas". Maeg SpA. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  8. ↑ "Africa Cup of Nations: Deadly crush reported at Cameroon stadium". BBC News. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
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