Obafemi Awolowo Stadium

The Obafemi Awolowo Stadium located at Liberty road, Ring Road in Ibadan, Nigeria, was originally named the Liberty Stadium until 2010. It is a historic football stadium with a capacity of 25,000 seats.[1]

Obafemi Awolowo Stadium
Full nameObafemi Awolowo Stadium
Former namesLiberty Stadium
AddressIbadan 7.366031°N 3.874151°E / 7.366031; 3.874151
Capacity25,000
Opened1960 (1960)

History

Construction

The stadium was opened in 1960[2] during the tenure of Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was serving as the Premier of the Western Region at the time. It was named Liberty Stadium in honor of Nigeria's independence. Constructed by direct labour under the supervision of the regional Ministry of Works and Transport, the stadium was the central location of sports in the old Western region of Nigeria. It was sited at the Southern end of Ibadan in 1960 near the summit of a hill, and located close to a bypass that leads to the Ibadan-Abeokuta and Ibadan-Lagos roads.[3]

The stadium, at inception, aside football pitch in the main bowl with floodlights, also boasted the indoor sports halls, swimming pool, courts for tennis, volleyball, handball, basketball, hockey, etc.[4]

Boxing

On August 10, 1963 the stadium hosted the first ever boxing world title fight in Africa. The match was initially slated for July 13, 1963. This was for the Middleweight Championship of the World belt and was fought between Nigeria's own Dick Tiger and Gene Fullmer of the USA.

African Cup of Nations

In 1980, the stadium hosted several matches during the African Cup of Nations, including a semi-final between Algeria and Egypt.

FIFA World Youth Championship

In 1999, the Liberty Stadium was selected along with eight other stadiums in Nigeria to host the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. [5] The stadium hosted all of the Group C matches, one of the Round of 16 matches, and one of the quarter-final matches.

Renaming

On November 12, 2010, the stadium was renamed as the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium.[6] The renaming of the stadium was announced by the then Nigerian president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, when he visited Chief Obafemi Awolowo's widow, Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Awolowo. [7]

References
  1. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jujufilm/5885877459/in/photolist-9Y7EiR-9YatA9-9YaXFd-9Y81ic-9YaPjW-9YaXa3-9Y7Xxp-9YaLo5-9YaMJo-9YaYVG-9Y8276-9YaM6j-9Y82S6-9YaNy7-9YaQfU-9YaZxW-9YaR6E-9YavZE-9Y7PLH-9YaFnA-9YaDpd-9Y7DCk-9Y7ChT-9Yauey-9YaEgY-9YaAbu-9YaGkQ-9Y7GcM-9Y7AAg-9Y7CXB-9YaBzU
  2. Wolfgang F. Stolper, Clive S. Gray (2003). Inside Independent Nigeria: Diaries of Wolfgang Stolper, 1960-1962. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0-7546-0995-2.
  3. "The Liberty Stadium at Ibadan Nigeria". West African Builder and Architect: 2–4. 1963.
  4. http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/will-nigerias-first-obafemi-awolowo-stadium-come-back-life/
  5. Ajimotokan, Olawale (22 April 2012). "World Cup Venue: Crowd Attitude Counts against Ibadan". This Day Live. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  6. Awolowo Stadium At last Archived 2010-12-27 at the Wayback Machine, Nigerian Tribune, November 23, 2010.
  7. "Jonathan Renames Liberty Stadium in Ibadan after Awolowo". The African Examiner. 14 November 2010. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
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