Abidjan Olympic Stadium: Reminder of China-Cote d'Ivoire partnership

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Marref Darek Kouassi and his football team members have been training on a muddy field in downtown Abidjan, Cote d’lvoire, for years.

As the captain of a local football team, he is trying to lead the team to be qualified for the national championship.

They are blessed with incredible football talents, but the sport facility is not up to par.

Marref says many cars and motorbikes pass through the training ground where many players have been hit or injured by cars. The ground is always filled with puddles after rain, so they have to spend a lot of time cleaning up before practicing.

The FC football team players are trying to be qualified to compete in the national championship. /CGTN Photo

The only ground with international standards for football matches in Abidjan is the city’s Houphouet-Boigny stadium, which was built before the country’s independence in 1960. But its state has been often criticized. In 2009 and 2013 two separate stampedes claimed the lives of 80 people in and around the stadium.

There was a need for a new stadium and it’s starting to take shape.

The Abidjan Olympic Stadium, a free assistance project from China, covers an area of 60,000 square meters.

FC football team players train on a muddy ground. /CGTN Photo

It will become the largest and most advanced stadium in the African continent when completed next year.

It is one of over 30 stadiums and sports facilities donated or built by China in Africa. They only account for a small part of the China-Africa cooperation, but the massive and modern structures stand as a tangible reminder of the partnership between the two sides.

Football players have to clean up the puddles on the training ground before practicing. /CGTN Photo

In three years, the Abidjan Olympic Stadium will host the games of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Marref hopes he can be part of the event. He is happy to see the younger generation getting the opportunity to have such infrastructure and a long term facility for their use.