Edem Mensah
Kumasi Sports Stadium
The largest sports stadium in Ghana is located in the Ashanti Region, Kumasi. The Kumasi Sports Stadium is a multi-task sports stadium with a 40,528 seating capacity.
Kumasi Sports Stadium was originally built in 1957 by the (UAC) United African Company and was opened in 1959.
Sports Council of Ashanti are the owners of the stadium therefore, supervision of the stadium is their duty.
In 1971 the first stand of the stadium was built and subsequently in 1977 saw the rebuilding of the stadium.
Under the NPP government in 2004 the stadium was renamed after Kumasi-based team Asante Kotoko footballer Baba Yara who was active for the club from 1955 to 1961.
Major works on the stadium ended in 2008 where a two-tier stand with press and VIP facilities was added.
The stadium was installed with transparent panels to separate the viewer’s area from the players to avoid pitch invaders.
AFCON Games Played at the Stadium
During the 1978 African Cup of Nations tournament, 6 group matches were played at the Kumasi Sports Stadium and a Semi-final game was also played at the stadium.
Likewise in the 2000 African Cup of Nations games, The Baba Yara Sports Stadium hosted 7 matches. Similarly, in the 2008 AFCON, the stadium was again used.
One of the biggest International games played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium was on the 25th of March, 2022 first leg of the World Cup playoff match between Ghana and Nigeria.
Occupants of the Kumasi Sports Stadium
Kumasi Sports Stadium is used as the home ground for some teams based in the Ashanti Region.
Teams like Asante Kotoko Sporting Club and King Faisal Football Club use the sports stadium as their home.
Ghana national football team uses the stadium also for international matches.
Asante Kotoko Sporting Club
Asante Kotoko as widely called is a professional football club founded on the 31st of August, 1935.
Porcupine Warriors are Kumasi based club in the Ashanti Region of Ghana and plays in the Ghana Premier League also hosts home matches at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
They are known across Africa for their outstanding performance in the CAF Champions League and for winning this prestigious trophy twice.
Kumasi Asante Kotoko with the nickname Porcupine Warriors won the Ghana Premier League with a record of 24 times.
King Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II the paramount ruler of the Ashanti Kingdom is the owner of the club and this gives the club a high standard.
Asante Kotoko was once adjudged the African Club of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
King Faisal Football Club
King Faisal Football Club is a Kumasi-based professional team owned by the Kumasi Muslim Community.
Alhaji Karim Grunsah is the Chairman of the team and they currently play in the Division One League.
The Kumasi-based club King Faisal was named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. King Faisal also uses Kumasi Sports Stadium as its home.
