Senegal have officially unveiled a new national stadium with a capacity of 50 000 seats following their Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
Senegal president Macky Sall led the inauguration of the new Stade de Senegal in a ceremony that was attended by various heads of state and football dignitaries, including the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.
Scroll through the gallery above for some of the best images from the inauguration at the Stade de Senegal!
According to France24, the venue will be the only stadium in the country that will be certified to host international matches as the nation’s last big ground, Lat Dior, lost its CAF certification in May 2021.
Thousands of citizens were at the inauguration to get their first experience of the new facility, which is said to have been built in just a year and a half by a Turkish construction company at a cost of $270 million (R4.06 billion).
During his speech, the president explained that the venue will the heart of the Lions of Teranga in their hopes to achieve greater things going forward.
“It is in this beautiful den that our valiant lions will celebrate their conquest of Africa and the world,” Sall told the crowd, per Sportstar.
The stadium will host an exhibition match between a team of the country’s legends, including current national team boss Aliou Cisse, and an African all-star side that will feature the likes of Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o.
It will then stage its first competitive fixture when the home side takes on Afcon 2021 finalists Egypt in a crucial 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 29 March.
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