Paul Biya Stadium Remains Unused Since AFCON 2021 Final

The last match played at the Olembe Stadium, also known as the Paul Biya Stadium, was on February 7, 2022, during the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This event saw the Teranga Lions of Senegal triumph over the Pharaohs of Egypt in a dramatic penalty shootout.

Since then, the 60,000-capacity stadium, situated on the outskirts of Yaoundé, has remained largely unused. Despite its hefty construction cost of over 218 billion FCFA, which far exceeded the initial estimate of 163 billion FCFA, the stadium has not hosted any sporting events for over two years.

A recent, yet-to-be-verified video circulating on social media shows parts of the stadium’s structure deteriorating. In response to concerns about the condition of AFCON-related infrastructure, President Paul Biya established the National Sports Facilities and Equipment Board (NSFEB) in 2022 to manage these venues. The board, led by former goalkeeper Joseph Antoinne Bell, is responsible for the maintenance and leasing of the facilities. However, Olembe Stadium and its training grounds remain largely inaccessible.

“If the recent video of beautiful Olembe is anything to go by, then millions will be going down the drainage,” a source commented, reflecting widespread concern over the stadium’s disuse.

According to the Africa Report, maintaining each stadium constructed for the 2021 AFCON costs approximately 1 billion FCFA annually. The Cameroonian government reportedly invested nearly 500 billion FCFA in building and renovating sports infrastructure for the tournament. Despite these significant expenditures, Olembe Stadium has yet to serve the public fully.

Notably, events like the finals of the Cameroon Cup are not held at Olembe. Football clubs in Yaoundé also do not have access to its training facilities. The government claims the stadium is still under construction, including additional amenities such as a 2,000-seat gymnasium, a museum, an Olympic swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts, tennis courts, commercial spaces, and a five-star hotel.

However, allegations of embezzlement have cast a shadow over the project. Initially estimated at 163 billion FCFA, the overall cost ballooned, prompting President Biya in 2021 to authorize a loan of 55.5 billion FCFA to complete the stadium in time for AFCON. Yet, despite this investment, the stadium remains unavailable for key domestic competitions like the Cameroon Cup or MTN Elite One and Two.

A similar situation occurred in Gabon, where stadiums built for AFCON 2017 were abandoned and fell into disrepair post-tournament.

Mimi Mefo Info