Where Does Abuja National Stadium Rank Among the Top 10 Most Expensive Stadiums in Africa?

From North Africa to Southern Africa, different countries have spent millions of dollars to build world-class arenas for sports and entertainment. 

The Abuja National Stadium is one of the biggest stadiums in Africa, and it hosted the Nigerian national team for a long time, but where does it rank among the most expensive stadiums in Africa?

Cost: $600 million

Capacity: 55,000

City: Cape Town

Cape Town Stadium was built specially for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Located near the ocean and the famous Table Mountain, the stadium is one of the most beautiful in the world. 

Its modern design and top facilities made it one of the most expensive stadiums in Africa, and apart from football, it also hosts rugby and concerts. 

It is now home to Cape Town Spurs, and although some people questioned the cost, there is no doubt that Cape Town Stadium stands out as a top venue on the continent.

Cost: $440 million

Capacity: 94,736

City: Johannesburg

FNB Stadium, also called Soccer City, is the biggest stadium in Africa. It was renovated in 2009 for the 2010 World Cup, and the stadium hosted the opening match and the final of that tournament. 

With its iconic “calabash” shape, the stadium has become a symbol of South African football and is now the home ground of Kaizer Chiefs while also hosting Bafana Bafana games. 

Its massive size and high-quality design make it one of the most expensive and most used stadiums in Africa.

Cost: $360 million

Capacity: 60,491

City: Abuja

Abuja National Stadium, now known as Moshood Abiola National Stadium, was built in 2003 to host the All-Africa Games. 

It is the most expensive stadium in Nigeria and one of the most expensive in Africa. Located in Nigeria’s capital, the stadium was built with modern technology and international standards. 

It has hosted Super Eagles games, athletics events, and concerts. Over the years, the stadium faced challenges with maintenance, but it remains one of the top stadiums on the continent in terms of cost and size. 

Cost: $270 million

Capacity: 46,000

City: Port Elizabeth

Named after South Africa’s greatest leader, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is another product of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

It was one of the ten stadiums used during the tournament, and it sits close to the ocean with a beautiful design that looks like a flower. 

It is used for football, rugby, and community events; though not as popular as Cape Town or FNB Stadium, it still cost a lot of money to build and remains a key part of South Africa’s sports infrastructure.

Cost: $150 million

Capacity: 45,000

City: Polokwane

Peter Mokaba Stadium is another South African stadium built for the 2010 World Cup. It is named after a famous anti-apartheid leader, and it has a unique design inspired by the baobab tree, making it stand out in Polokwane. 

Though it does not host as many big matches as the top three stadiums, it is still well-built and cost a lot. It serves as a home for local clubs and hosts various sports and cultural events.

Cost: $105 million

Capacity: 35,700

City: Bata

Estadio de Bata is one of the biggest stadiums in Central Africa. It gained attention when Equatorial Guinea hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 and 2015. 

The stadium was built to boost the country’s sports profile and has since become a regular venue for national matches and public events. 

Although not as expensive as others on the list, it still cost over $100 million, which is a large sum for a small country like Equatorial Guinea.

Cost: $140 million

Capacity: 40,929

City: Nelspruit

Mbombela Stadium is located near the Kruger National Park, one of South Africa’s top tourist spots. 

The stadium was opened in 2009 and hosted games during the 2010 World Cup. 

Its roof is designed to look like giraffe spots, which reflects the local wildlife, and though not the biggest, its creative design and construction cost still put it among the most expensive in Africa. It is used for football and rugby and remains a favourite for fans visiting the area.

Cost: $110 million

Capacity: 40,000

City: Libreville

Stade d’Angondjé was built ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, which Gabon co-hosted with Equatorial Guinea. 

It is one of the few large stadiums in Central Africa and is often used for national team matches. Built with Chinese assistance, the stadium’s name means “Stadium of Friendship”, showing the close ties between both nations. 

Its design is simple, but it is a very important sports venue in Gabon and cost over $100 million to build.

Cost: $110 million

Capacity: 60,000

City: Radès, Tunis

Stade Olympique de Radès is one of the top stadiums in North Africa. 

Built in 2001, it was used for the Mediterranean Games and later became the home of the Tunisian national team. 

The stadium has hosted major CAF and FIFA matches, including Champions League finals, and is used by top clubs like Esperance and Club Africain. 

With its large capacity and good structure, it remains one of the best stadiums in the region.

Cost: $200 million

Capacity: 86,000

City: Alexandria

Borg El Arab Stadium is the biggest in Egypt and the second biggest in Africa after FNB Stadium, built by the Egyptian Armed Forces and finished in 2007. 

Although it was not used for the 2006 AFCON, it later became the home ground for the Egyptian national team. 

Al Ahly and Zamalek have also played many big games there, as the stadium has a simple but strong structure and can hold a huge number of fans. 

With a cost of $360 million, Abuja National Stadium ranks third on the list of the most expensive stadiums in Africa, with only Cape Town Stadium and FNB Stadium, both in South Africa, costing more. 

Even though it has faced issues with maintenance, the stadium remains a major landmark in African sports, and it is a proud symbol for Nigeria and holds its place among the very best on the continent.