On the evening of Saturday, June 15, 2024, Amahoro Stadium made history by hosting its first match after undergoing extensive renovations to meet international standards. The highly anticipated game between the Rwandan Armed Forces (APR FC) and Rayon Sports, dubbed ‘Umuhuro mu Mahoro’, drew a full capacity crowd, with fans from both sides arriving early in the morning to secure their seats.
The match served as a test event for the newly renovated stadium, which is set to be officially launched on July 4, 2024 during the Liberation Day celebrations. Prior to kick-off, President Paul Kagame, Minister of Sports Hon. Munyangaju Aurore Mimosa, and other leaders were given a tour of the stadium to inspect the upgrades and improvements.
Despite the excitement surrounding the match, both teams were unable to break the deadlock, with the game ending in a 0-0 draw. The result did little to dampen the spirits of the fans, who were thrilled to witness history being made at Amahoro Stadium.
The renovation project, which began in February 2022, aimed to increase the stadium’s capacity from 25,000 to over 45,000 spectators. Built on a sprawling 75 thousand square meter site, with a height of 40 meters from the ground to the top, the stadium is estimated to have cost more than 160 billion Rwandan francs.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has given its stamp of approval, confirming that Amahoro Stadium now meets all requirements to host CAF and FIFA matches. With its successful debut match, Amahoro Stadium is poised to become a premier sporting venue in Rwanda and a source of pride for the nation.
By Rwanda For You
