Star-studded turnout as Benghazi International Stadium opens up

Benghazi International Stadium has reopened its doors following a major redevelopment that has upped its capacity to around 42,000, with legends of world football travelling to Libya to take part in an exhibition match marking the occasion.

The stadium’s opening ceremony yesterday (Thursday) saw the likes of Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Michael Owen and Samuel Eto’o turn out in the exhibition game. Formerly a 28,000-capacity venue, Benghazi International Stadium’s upgrades have also included the installation of main platforms for VIPs and diplomats, with 1,266 seats equipped with smart screens.

New service facilities such as restaurants and cafes have also been introduced, with media facilities upgraded, two giant screens installed and high-quality speakers added throughout the stadium bowl.

The project has been overseen by the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund and has been delivered by Limak Construction, the Turkish contractor which is also responsible for the ongoing redevelopment of FC Barcelona’s Spotify Camp Nou.

The reopening of Benghazi International Stadium comes after a two-year redevelopment of Tripoli International Stadium was completed in March 2024. Yesterday’s event was attended by a packed crowd, which included a high-level Libyan Government delegation and eastern Libya’s strongman, Khalifa Haftar.

“The Benghazi International Stadium belongs to all Libyans,” Haftar said, according to the AFP news agency, describing it as a place of unity as Libya remains a “single nation despite the challenges and difficulties”.

Oil-rich Libya is still contending with the fallout from the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that deposed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The country remains divided between the Haftar-backed administration in the east, and the internationally recognised Tripoli-based government in the west, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah.

While not directly referencing eastern authorities, Dbeibah said in a statement on social media yesterday: “I congratulate the people of Benghazi and the sporting public on the opening of the City Stadium, which will boost our country’s sporting infrastructure, serve our youth and athletes.

“Achieving the homeland by building and developing is the best choice for our country and our people. This is our vision since day one, and any addition to sports infrastructure is for the benefit of Libya and the future of its sport.”

The Municipality of Benghazi declared Thursday a public holiday, closing public and private offices to coincide with the inauguration of Benghazi International Stadium and other infrastructure projects.

According to Libyan news agency LANA, head of the preparatory committee for the opening of Benghazi International Stadium, Aqila Ali Al-Abbar, said the new-look stadium is the most prominent sports landmark in the country, and was built according to the latest international specifications adopted by FIFA.