Baba Yara Stadium

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Baba Yara Stadium
nickname =


location = Kumasi, Ghana
opened =
owner = Sports Council of Ghana
operator =
surface =
construction_cost =
capacity =
architect =
former_names = Kumasi Sports Stadium
tenants = Asante Kotoko
King Faisal Babes
seating_capacity = 40,000

Baba Yara Stadium (also known as Kumasi Sports Stadium) is a multi-use stadium in Kumasi, Ghana. It is Ghana's largest stadium, with a capacity of 40,000. It is named after Baba Yara, one of Ghana's top footballers who played for Asante Kotoko and the Ghana national football team, the Black Stars as a right winger. [cite web |url=http://www.modernghana.com/GhanaHome/SportsArchive/sports_details.asp?menu_id=2&id=VFZSVk1VOVVWVFE9 |title=Name the Tamale Stadium after Tanko Nasamu |accessdate=2008-02-06 |author=Wayo Seni |date=2008-01-30 |ref=quoted from the Statesman]

The Kumasi Stadium is used mostly for football matches, although it is also used for athletics. It is the home of one of Africa's most popular clubs, Asante Kotoko as well as King Faisal Babes. Kumasi is Ghana's second largest city and the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom. The stadium was originally built by the United African Company (UAC) around the time of Ghana's independence.cite web|url=http://www.asantekotokofc.org/Newreel/000108/babayara1.htm |title=Kotoko to celebrate 50yrs of Baba Yara Stadium.|accessdate=2008-02-06 |date=2008-01-06 |author=David Kyei |publisher=Asante Kotoko]

The first major renovation of the stadiium took place in 1971. The stadium was rebuilt in 1977. The third major works ended in 2008.

The stadium hosted 6 group matches and one of the semi final matches of the 1978 African Cup of Nations tournament in Ghana. During the 2000 African Cup of Nations in Ghana and Nigeria, the stadium hosted 7 matches. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sport/football/africa/cup_of_nations/kumasi.stm BBC News Online | Africa | Sport | Cup of Nations | Venue Guide | Kumasi ] ] It was later used for the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

External links

* [http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/africa/ghana/kumasi_sports.shtml world stadiums.com]
* [http://www.fussballtempel.net/caf/GHA/Kumasi.html Photos] at [http://www.fussballtempel.net/ fussballtempel.net]

References