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SENEGAL USHERS IN WORLD-CLASS STADIUM

SENEGAL USHERS IN WORLD-CLASS STADIUM
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Wayne Lumbasi

Thousands of Senegalese gathered on Tuesday for the inauguration of a 50,000-seater stadium aimed at making the country Africa’s go-to venue for international events. 

The stadium is in Diamniadio, a town being built about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the capital Dakar. The new stadium was built in just 18 months by Turkey’s Summa construction company, at a cost of 156 billion CFA francs ($270 million, 238 million euros).

The venue, for now called the Stade de Senegal, will be the only one in Senegal that will be certified for international football. Jubilant crowds came by bus and train for the inauguration, following Senegal’s dramatic victory at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on February 6.

Diamniadio Olympic Stadium /Courtesy/

Senegalese President Macky Sall, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino were among the VIPs that attended Tuesday’s inauguration.

An exhibition match was a part of the show, with Senegalese legends such as Aliou Cisse -the current coach of the national side, opposing a team of African all-stars, including Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast.

The first big competitive match will be on March 29. Senegal, who beat Egypt for to take the African title, meet the Pharaohs again in a World Cup qualifier.

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Wayne Lumbasi