Paul Biya Stadium
Foto: Wikimedia Commons contributors · CC BY-SA
- Capacity
- 60,000
- Year opened
- 2021
- Club
- —
- Country
- Cameroon
Overview
About the stadium
Stade Paul Biya, officially Stade Omnisport Paul Biya, is the largest football stadium in Cameroon and one of the most significant sports venues in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is located in the Olembe neighborhood in the northern suburbs of Yaoundé, approximately 15 kilometers from the center of the Cameroonian capital. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 spectators and serves as the main home venue for the Cameroonian national football team, nicknamed the Indomitable Lions (Lions Indomptables).
The arena was officially opened in September 2021 and has become the center of a multifunctional sports complex that also includes an athletic stadium, tennis courts, an aquatic center, and a golf course. Named after the long-serving president of the republic Paul Biya, who has led Cameroon continuously since 1982, it reflects the symbolic and political significance of the entire project.
With a capacity of 60,000 seats, Stade Paul Biya ranks among the approximately ten largest stadiums on the African continent. A distinctive feature is its striking tensegrity roof made of tensioned cables, with its highest point reaching 46 meters above the pitch surface. The roof is adorned in the colors of the Cameroonian flag — green, red, and yellow.
Key Facts
- Capacity: 60,000 spectators
- Opened: September 2021
- Neighborhood: Olembe, Yaoundé
- Construction: 2016–2021
- Certification: CAF / FIFA
History
Journey through time
Preparations and Start of Construction
The opportunity to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) prompted the Cameroonian government to initiate extensive construction of new sports infrastructure. The government originally awarded the construction to the Italian company Gruppo Piccini, which signed the construction contract on December 30, 2015. Preparatory work on the land in Olembe began in 2016, and actual construction started on March 7, 2017. The commencement was fraught with complications as new designs had to be drawn up and compensations had to be paid to local residents who had to vacate the land.
The stadium was expected to be completed in March 2019, three months before the planned beginning of AFCON 2019. However, CAF assessed Cameroon’s readiness for the tournament as inadequate — in November 2018, the hosting rights were withdrawn and awarded to Egypt. This blow came despite the incomplete new stadiums and ongoing security issues in some regions of the country.
The contract with the Piccini group was terminated in November 2019, and construction was taken over by Canadian firm Magil Construction. Final preparations for AFCON 2021 — postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic to January-February 2022 — forced Cameroonian authorities to expedite work. The stadium was officially opened on September 3, 2021, with a qualifying match for the World Cup between Cameroon and Malawi (2:0).
AFCON 2021 (Held in 2022)
The opening match of the tournament on January 9, 2022 was held at Stade Paul Biya: Cameroon, as the host country, faced Burkina Faso and won 2:1 in front of a boisterous home crowd. The stadium became the heart of the entire championship.
Tragedy on January 24, 2022
The darkest chapter in the stadium’s history remains the tragedy of the evening of January 24, 2022, before the group match between Cameroon and Comoros. A massive influx of fans caused a crush at the southern entrance. Police temporarily closed the entrance in the face of the crowd surge, only to reopen it unfortunately in the ensuing chaos — 8 people lost their lives, and more than 35 others were injured. The stadium was at full capacity: it is estimated that approximately 57,000 spectators got inside, even though the permitted capacity for the match was set at 40,000. President Biya and CAF immediately ordered an investigation. The Cameroonian Minister of Sports described the security forces' actions as "reckless".
AFCON Final
Despite the tragedy, CAF confirmed that the tournament final would be held at Stade Paul Biya. On February 6, 2022, Senegal defeated Egypt on penalties (0:0 after extra time, 4:2 on penalties) here, winning their historic first Africa Cup of Nations title.
Atmosphere
Matchday
Indomitable Lions
Cameroon is one of the most successful footballing nations in Africa. The national team, the Indomitable Lions (Les Lions Indomptables), has won the Africa Cup of Nations five times (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017) and was the first African team to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup (Italy 1990). This rich tradition creates an electrifying atmosphere at home games — fans in green, red, and yellow fill the stands, cheering to the rhythm of drums and songs.
Legends of Cameroonian Football
The stadium resonated with the atmosphere of generations of football icons at its opening. Samuel Eto'o, regarded by many polls as the greatest African footballer of all time, a four-time Champions League winner and three-time AFCON champion, remains a symbol of Cameroonian football — in 2021 he became the president of the football federation FECAFOOT. Roger Milla, a World Cup 1990 legend known for his unforgettable dance at the corner flag, is an venerated figure of national identity. The presence of these icons in the Cameroonian football consciousness adds a significance to every Lions match that transcends the pitch.
AFCON 2022 at Stade Paul Biya
The AFCON 2021 tournament (held in January-February 2022) was an exceptional spectacle for Cameroonians. The opening match for the host nation, the victorious team from 2017, ended with a win for the Lions over Burkina Faso and sparked a wave of euphoria. Stade Paul Biya was filled with national pride — a new, modern venue symbolizing the prestige and ambitions of the entire country. The final, featuring Senegal and Egypt, attracted thousands of football tourists from across the continent and confirmed the stadium as a premier African sports destination.
Acoustics and Architecture
The enclosed tensegrity cable roof acts as a natural acoustic reflector — chants, drumming, and singing from the fans resonate under the roof, creating a powerful sound effect. The generous capacity of 60,000 spectators and the tiered arrangement of the stands ensure that even distant seats have a good view of the pitch. During sold-out matches featuring the Cameroonian national team, the atmosphere at Stade Paul Biya is among the most intense in Africa.
Practical info
Visiting the stadium
Location and Transport
Stade Paul Biya is situated in the Olembe neighborhood of the northern suburbs of Yaoundé, approximately 15 kilometers from the historical center of the Cameroonian capital. There is no direct metro or tram service in Yaoundé — the main modes of transportation are taxis (both shared taxi-brousse and private cars), and for major matches, it is advisable to expect significantly longer travel times due to traffic congestion on access routes. Ride-sharing applications like Yango (the African equivalent of Uber) operate in Yaoundé and are a convenient option for tourists.
Security after the 2022 Tragedy
Following the crush on January 24, 2022, which resulted in the deaths of 8 fans, Cameroonian authorities implemented new security measures: stricter capacity limits at matches, separate entry corridors by sector, and enhanced crowd management by security forces. Visitors should arrive at the stadium well in advance, avoid pressure in crowds at entrances, and respect the organizers' instructions. Using tickets with assigned sectors and seats is standard practice for international events.
Practical Information
- Address: Olembe, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Distance from the city center: approx. 15 km
- Recommended transportation: taxi, Yango, private vehicle
- Parking: available on-site at the sports complex
- Capacity: 60,000 seats (capacity may be limited during international events)
- Managed by: Ministry of Sports of Cameroon / FECAFOOT
Map
Where to find the stadium
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Yaoundé, Cameroon
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