Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium

About

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Bauchi, Nigeria. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of the Wikki Tourists. The stadium has a capacity of 15,000 and was opened in 1985 and named after Nigeria's first prime minister, Tafawa Balewa. In 2024, the Bauchi State Government announced plans to remodel the stadium to a 30,000-capacity venue in partnership with private investors. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium was one of the 8 venues used for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria, hosting 3 matches. Its first game at the tournament between Nigeria and Argentina at the group stage recorded an attendance of 11,467 people. Distinguishing features of the stadium include a world-class FIFA standard scoreboard, LED display and energy saving floodlights, closed-circuit television (CCTV) for security surveillance, and an ultra-modern media centre. It also houses an Olympic-size 10-lane swimming pool.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.