Teslim Balogun Stadium
Encyclopedia
Teslim Balogun Stadium is a multi-use stadium
in Lagos
, Nigeria
. It is currently used mostly for football
matches and serves as a home ground of First Bank F.C.
. The stadium holds 24,325 people and sits adjacent to the Lagos National Stadium.
It is named after former professional footballer Teslim Balogun
.
By the time the stadium was completed in 2007, it took 23 years to build and cost over
N1.3 billion. Started in 1984 under the administration of military governor Gbolahan Mudasiru
, construction continually stalled under military regimes and the stadium became a white elephant. As recent as 2006, homeless people and area boys
were living in the facility.
The first event held in the stadium was the 18th Mobil Track and Field Athletics Championship on May 17. The
first football game was a friendly on May 28 between Enyimba
vs. Asante Kotoko
. The stadium also hosted the NFL Super Four playoff that season and the Nigerian FA Cup
final in 2007. The final of the 2009 Federation Cup between Enyimba and Sharks was held at the stadium.
Lagos State Commissioner for Youth Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele disclosed at the FIFA Media Briefing Room of the Teslim Balogun Stadium on May 18, 2009 on the preparations for FIFA U-17 World Cup
that “with a FIFA Star Two artificial turf, FIFA Grade seats with back rest, a seating capacity of 24,325, a 70KVA electricity generating set for the digital scoreboard, state of art changing room for athletes and officials, security gadgets with CCTV cameras, a 1,000KVA and 500KVA generating sets and other standard facilities, I know we are set to host a successful championship.”
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. It is currently used mostly for football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches and serves as a home ground of First Bank F.C.
First Bank F.C.
First Bank FC is a Nigerian soccer club run by First Bank of Nigeria and based in Lagos. The bank runs clubs in various sports, including basketball.-Current squad:...
. The stadium holds 24,325 people and sits adjacent to the Lagos National Stadium.
It is named after former professional footballer Teslim Balogun
Teslim Balogun
Tesilimi Olawale "Teslim" Balogun was a Nigerian football player and coach. Balogun played at both professional and international levels a striker, before becoming Africa's first qualified professional football coach....
.
By the time the stadium was completed in 2007, it took 23 years to build and cost over
N1.3 billion. Started in 1984 under the administration of military governor Gbolahan Mudasiru
Gbolahan Mudasiru
Air Commodore Gbolahan Mudasiru was a Nigerian officer who was appointed Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria, holding office between January 1984 and August 1986 during the military regimes of General Muhammadu Buhari and his successor General Ibrahim Babangida.As governor, he continued the work of...
, construction continually stalled under military regimes and the stadium became a white elephant. As recent as 2006, homeless people and area boys
Area boys
Area boys are loosely organized gangs of street children and teenagers, composed mostly of males , who roam the streets of Lagos, Nigeria. They extort money from passers-by, sell illegal drugs, act as informal security guards, and perform other "odd jobs" in return for compensation...
were living in the facility.
The first event held in the stadium was the 18th Mobil Track and Field Athletics Championship on May 17. The
first football game was a friendly on May 28 between Enyimba
Enyimba
Enyimba International Football Club, or simply Enyimba, is a Nigerian football club based in the city of Aba which plays in the Nigerian Premier League. Their name means People's Elephant in Igbo language and is also the nickname used for the city of Aba...
vs. Asante Kotoko
Asante Kotoko
Asante Kotoko Football Club, also known as Asante Kotoko, is one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in Ghana as well as being one of the more successful teams in Africa, having won twenty national league titles. They have also twice been champions of Africa. The club's home ground is...
. The stadium also hosted the NFL Super Four playoff that season and the Nigerian FA Cup
Nigerian FA Cup
The Nigerian FA Cup is the main football single-elimination tournament in Nigeria. It was created in 1945 as the "Governor's Cup", succeeding the War Memorial Challenge Cup that had been limited to teams from Lagos.- Winners :War Memorial Challenge Cup*1942 : ZAC Bombers 1-0 Services*1943 : Lagos...
final in 2007. The final of the 2009 Federation Cup between Enyimba and Sharks was held at the stadium.
Lagos State Commissioner for Youth Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele disclosed at the FIFA Media Briefing Room of the Teslim Balogun Stadium on May 18, 2009 on the preparations for FIFA U-17 World Cup
FIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 World Cup, founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later changed to the FIFA U-17 World Championship and known by its current name since 2007, is the world championship of association football for male players under the age of 17 organized by Fédération Internationale de Football...
that “with a FIFA Star Two artificial turf, FIFA Grade seats with back rest, a seating capacity of 24,325, a 70KVA electricity generating set for the digital scoreboard, state of art changing room for athletes and officials, security gadgets with CCTV cameras, a 1,000KVA and 500KVA generating sets and other standard facilities, I know we are set to host a successful championship.”