The new Benghazi stadium is inaugurated, a sporting milestone for Libya

The president of the Preparatory Committee for the Opening of the Benghazi International Stadium, Aqila Al-Abar, revealed that the official date for the opening of the stadium is this Thursday 20th February.

Al-Abbar said in a press release that the inauguration will be carried out with a grand ceremony and an exhibition match with the participation of international football stars.

According to the organisers, the event will be celebrated with a special match involving former international football stars. World-class champions will take to the field, including Samuel Eto'o, Roberto Carlos, Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf, Juan Terry, Marco Materazzi, Julio Cesar and David Trezeguet, along with other stars who have written the history of football.

Also present will be Jens Lehmann, Michel Salgado, Michael Owen, Julio Baptista and Luis Nani, former players who played for big European clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Roma, Manchester United, Chelsea and Inter.

The event has a particular significance for Benghazi, a city under the control of the Government of National Stability, backed by the Parliament and by the Libyan National Army (LNA) of General Khalifa Haftar. 

The Municipality of Benghazi declared Thursday 20th February a public holiday and closed public and private offices to coincide with the inauguration of the renovated stadium and other infrastructure projects.

The aim is to transform the facility into a centre for Libyan football, the most popular sport in the country which is trying to recover after years of crisis. 

Al Nasr Benghazi are the current national champions, having won their third title in the 2023-2024 season. The Scudetto finals for that edition were held in Italy, which is testament to the organisational difficulties of the country divided into parallel politico-military administrations.

The International Stadium in Benghazi, which has been financed by the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund, is the country's most prominent sporting landmark, and was built in accordance with the latest international standards adopted by the International Football Federation.

The stadium's roofed stands have a capacity for some 42,000 spectators, a significant increase on its previous capacity of 28,000 spectators, and its seats have been supplied by the world's largest specialised companies.

The stadium includes 9 main entrances and 24 emergency exits to facilitate the entry and exit of fans, as those responsible confirmed that it can be evacuated in 7 minutes in case of emergency.

The stadium also includes main platforms for senior visitors and diplomats, including 1266 seats equipped with smart screens, as well as lifts for people with special needs and service facilities such as restaurants and cafes.

The stadium also has a television room, a Var room, 177 toilets distributed throughout the stadium, two large screens on the roof and high-quality speakers to guarantee clear sound and instructions throughout the stadium.