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{{Short description|Multi-purpose stadium in Kumasi, Ghana}}
'''Kumasi Sports Stadium''' is a multi-use [[stadium]] in [[Kumasi]], [[Ghana]]. It is currently used mostly for [[football (soccer)|football]] matches and is can also host athletics. The stadium holds 51,500.
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Baba Yara Sports Stadium
| nickname = Kumasi Sports Stadium
| image = [[File:Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.jpg|250px]]
| location = [[Kumasi]], [[Ashanti Region|Ashanti]], Ghana
| opened = 1959 (first stands were built in 1971)
| owner = Sports Council of Ashanti
| operator =
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost =
| capacity = 40,528 <ref name=" The great Porcupines of Africa">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=1884681/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106153914/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=1884681/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |title=Classic club: The great Porcupines of Africa |work= fifa.com|publisher= [[FIFA]] |access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref>
| architect =
| project_manager = [[United African Company]] (UAC)
| former_names = Kumasi Sports Stadium
| tenants = [[Asante Kotoko SC|Asante Kotoko]]<br>[[Ghana national football team]]<ref name=" The great Porcupines of Africa"/>
| seating_capacity = 40,528
}}


'''Baba Yara Sports Stadium''' (also '''Kumasi Sports Stadium''') is a [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Kumasi]], [[Ashanti Region|Ashanti]]. It is Ghana's [[List of football stadiums in Ghana|largest stadium]], with a [[seating capacity]] of 40,528.
The Kumasi Stadium is used mostly for [[Association football|football]] matches, although it is also used for [[sport of athletics|athletics]]. It is the home of Kumasi [[Asante Kotoko SC|Asante Kotoko]] as well as [[King Faisal Babes FC|King Faisal]].<ref name=AsanteKotoko/>


The Stadium which is known for hosting important games such as World cup qualifiers and AFCON qualifiers received its heaviest backlash due to technical infraction and unsuitable playing field. This was due to a church program organized on the pitch thereby losing its license to host football matches of international standard s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=CAF withdraws approval for Baba Yara Sports Stadium |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2024/09/caf-withdraws-approval-for-baba-yara-sports-stadium/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Kumasi924.JPG|thumb|left|305px|Kumasi Sports Stadium in the 26th [[2008 Africa Cup of Nations|Africa Cup of Nations]]]]
The stadium was originally built by the [[United African Company]] (UAC) in 1957 and [[Inauguration|inaugurated]] as a designated football pitch in 1959. The first stands were constructed in 1971. The stadium was rebuilt in 1977. It was renamed after Kumasi-born footballer [[Baba Yara]] (1936&ndash;1969, active for Asante Kotoko 1955–1961) under the [[New Patriotic Party|New Patriotic]] government in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.modernghana.com/GhanaHome/SportsArchive/sports_details.asp?menu_id=2&id=VFZSVk1VOVVWVFE9 |title=Sports News &#124; Name the Tamale Stadium after Tanko Nasamu Name Stadium |access-date=2008-02-06 |author=Wayo Seni |date=2008-01-30 |ref= The Statesman}} "To name the Kumasi Sports Stadium after him was the greatest monument to his name. That name has also been retained for the new sports stadium the government has built at the same site after demolishing the old stadium."</ref>
The third major works ended in 2008. As part of the works, the west stand was demolished and replaced by a two-tier stand with press, corporate, and VIP facilities. The rest of the stands were upgraded, seats were added, and transparent panels were installed to separate the spectator area from the playing area in order to prevent [[pitch invasion]]s.<ref name=AsanteKotoko>{{cite web|url=http://www.asantekotokofc.org/Newreel/000108/babayara1.htm |title=Kotoko to celebrate 50yrs of Kumasi Sports Stadium. |access-date=2008-02-06 |date=2008-01-06 |author=David Kyei |publisher=[[Asante Kotoko]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115071844/http://www.asantekotokofc.org/Newreel/000108/babayara1.htm |archive-date=2008-01-15 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Tournaments==
===1978, 2000 and 2008 African Cup of Nations===
The stadium hosted 6 group matches and one of the semi-final matches of the [[1978 African Cup of Nations]] tournament. During the [[2000 African Cup of Nations]], the stadium hosted 7 matches.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/enwiki/static/sport/football/africa/cup_of_nations/kumasi.stm | work=BBC News | title=BBC News Online – Africa – Sport – Cup of Nations – Venue Guide – Kumasi}}</ref> It was later used for the [[2008 African Cup of Nations]]. The Baba Yara stadium also hosted the [https://www.ghanafa.org/baba-yara-stadium-to-host-ghana-vs-nigeria-world-cup-play-off-tie?amp=1 Ghana and Nigeria match] in the first leg of their World Cup playoff match on Friday March 25, 2022.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://cafe.daum.net/stade/5BHw/22 Photos] at [https://cafe.daum.net/stade/ cafe.daum.net/stade]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110726105944/http://www.ghana-pedia.org/org/index.php?option=com_directory&listing=Baba%20Yara%20Sports%20Stadium&page=viewListing&lid=274&Itemid=36 Kumasi Sports Stadium]

{{coord|6|40|57.65|N|1|36|18.40|W|type:landmark|display=title}}

{{Ghana national football team}}
{{Asante Kotoko}}{{Ghana Premier League venues}}
[[Category:Asante Kotoko S.C.]]
[[Category:King Faisal F.C.]]
⚫
[[Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in Ghana]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Ghana]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Ghana]]
⚫
[[Category:Athletics (track and field) venues]]
[[Category:Football venues in Ghana]]
[[Category:Football venues in Ghana]]
[[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Ghana]]
{{stadium-stub}}
{{africa-struct-stub}}

Latest revision as of 21:06, 7 December 2024

Baba Yara Sports Stadium
Kumasi Sports Stadium
Map
Former namesKumasi Sports Stadium
LocationKumasi, Ashanti, Ghana
OwnerSports Council of Ashanti
Capacity40,528 [1]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1959 (first stands were built in 1971)
Project managerUnited African Company (UAC)
Tenants
Asante Kotoko
Ghana national football team[1]

Baba Yara Sports Stadium (also Kumasi Sports Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Kumasi, Ashanti. It is Ghana's largest stadium, with a seating capacity of 40,528. The Kumasi Stadium is used mostly for football matches, although it is also used for athletics. It is the home of Kumasi Asante Kotoko as well as King Faisal.[2]

The Stadium which is known for hosting important games such as World cup qualifiers and AFCON qualifiers received its heaviest backlash due to technical infraction and unsuitable playing field. This was due to a church program organized on the pitch thereby losing its license to host football matches of international standard s.[3]

History

[edit]
Kumasi Sports Stadium in the 26th Africa Cup of Nations

The stadium was originally built by the United African Company (UAC) in 1957 and inaugurated as a designated football pitch in 1959. The first stands were constructed in 1971. The stadium was rebuilt in 1977. It was renamed after Kumasi-born footballer Baba Yara (1936–1969, active for Asante Kotoko 1955–1961) under the New Patriotic government in 2004.[4] The third major works ended in 2008. As part of the works, the west stand was demolished and replaced by a two-tier stand with press, corporate, and VIP facilities. The rest of the stands were upgraded, seats were added, and transparent panels were installed to separate the spectator area from the playing area in order to prevent pitch invasions.[2]

Tournaments

[edit]

1978, 2000 and 2008 African Cup of Nations

[edit]

The stadium hosted 6 group matches and one of the semi-final matches of the 1978 African Cup of Nations tournament. During the 2000 African Cup of Nations, the stadium hosted 7 matches.[5] It was later used for the 2008 African Cup of Nations. The Baba Yara stadium also hosted the Ghana and Nigeria match in the first leg of their World Cup playoff match on Friday March 25, 2022.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Classic club: The great Porcupines of Africa". fifa.com. FIFA. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b David Kyei (2008-01-06). "Kotoko to celebrate 50yrs of Kumasi Sports Stadium". Asante Kotoko. Archived from the original on 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  3. ^ "CAF withdraws approval for Baba Yara Sports Stadium". 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  4. ^ Wayo Seni (2008-01-30). "Sports News | Name the Tamale Stadium after Tanko Nasamu Name Stadium". Retrieved 2008-02-06. "To name the Kumasi Sports Stadium after him was the greatest monument to his name. That name has also been retained for the new sports stadium the government has built at the same site after demolishing the old stadium."
  5. ^ "BBC News Online – Africa – Sport – Cup of Nations – Venue Guide – Kumasi". BBC News.
[edit]

6°40′57.65″N 1°36′18.40″W / 6.6826806°N 1.6051111°W / 6.6826806; -1.6051111

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