Accra Sports Stadium is a multi-use, 40,000 all-seater stadium in Accra, Ghana, mostly used for association football matches. Originally known as the Accra Sports Stadium, the stadium was renamed after Ohene Djan, the country's first Director of Sports, in 2004. Its renaming was quite controversial and opposed by many in Accra's community. There has been ongoing controversy about the name of the stadium. On June 16 2011, the name 'Ohene Djan Stadium' on the stadium building was changed to 'Accra Sports Stadium' without any official announcement. It has since been reverted.
As a designated venue of some of the 2008 African Cup of Nations matches, the stadium was rebuilt, upgraded and modernized to meet FIFA standards. Work on the stadium was completed in October 2007. It was inaugurated with a four-nations tournament that Ghana won (the Zenith Cup).
The stadium is also the home of one of Africa's most popular clubs, Hearts of Oak as well as Great Olympics, but Ghana's national team matches are sometimes played there.
During the 2000 African Cup of Nations in Ghana and Nigeria, the stadium hosted 9 matches, and was also the venue of the 1978 final.
Famous quotes containing the words sports and/or stadium:
“Falling in love is the right adventure for those who dislike sports and travel.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“In their eyes I have seen
the pin men of madness in marathon trim
race round the track of the stadium pupil.”
—Patricia K. Page (b. 1916)