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.
History When the stadium was built in 1972, it had a capacity of 55,000. 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.
Its 50-meter pool was closed in 1999.
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. It last hosted a national team game in 2004, with football matches moved to the nearby Teslim Balogun Stadium. It is now occasionally used for religious gatherings and has been taken over by area boys and squatters. In 2009, the National Sports Commission begun a concerted effort to bring the facility back to world class status.
A Board of Management, headed by businessman Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony and counting the lawyer F. A. S. Ogunmuyiwa as one of its members, was established in the 1960s to oversee the stadium's construction and management. Federation of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 16, Vol. 48 (16th March, 1961), p. 306.
Notable football events 1980 African Cup of Nations Date Team 1 Result Team 2 Round8 March 19803–1Group A2–112 March 19802–10–015 March 19801–11–019 March 19801–0Semifinal21 March 19802–0Third place match22 March 19803–0Final
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
Date Team 1 Result Team 2 Attendance Round2 April 19991–137,500Group A4 April 19994–02,5007 April 19992–020,0001–318,00010 April 19991–225,0002–122,00014 April 19992–2 1,500Round of 1618 April 19992–110,000Quarter-final21 April 19991–28,000Semi-final24 April 19991–035,000Third place play-off4–038,000Final
2000 African Cup of Nations Date Team 1 Result Team 2 Attendance Round23 January 20004–280,000Group D25 January 20001–08,00028 January 20000–060,00029 January 20000–05,0001 February 20002–22,000Group C3 February 20002–060,000Group D7 February 20002–1 Quarterfinal10 February 20002–0Semifinal13 February 20002–2 Final
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.
Gallery
See also List of football stadiums in Nigeria
References
External links Photos of Stadiums in Nigeria at cafe.daum.net/stade Photos at fussballtempel.net