Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium
 Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bauchi Entry Gate | |
Interactive map of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium | |
| Location | Bauchi |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 10°19′12″N 9°50′08″E / 10.3199°N 9.8356°E |
| Capacity | 15,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1985 |
| Tenant | |
| Wikki Tourists | |
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Bauchi, Nigeria. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of the Wikki Tourists. The stadium has a capacity of 15,000 and was opened in 1985[1] and named after Nigeria's first prime minister, Tafawa Balewa.[2][3] In 2024, the Bauchi State Government announced plans to remodel the stadium to a 30,000-capacity venue in partnership with private investors.[4]
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium was one of the 8 venues used for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria, hosting 3 matches.[5] Its first game at the tournament between Nigeria and Argentina at the group stage recorded an attendance of 11,467 people.[6]
Distinguishing features of the stadium include a world-class FIFA standard scoreboard, LED display and energy saving floodlights, closed-circuit television (CCTV) for security surveillance, and an ultra-modern media centre. It also houses an Olympic-size 10-lane swimming pool.[7][8]
Notable matches
| Date | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Attendance | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 April 1999 |  Japan | 3–1 |  United States | 9,000 | Group E |
| 11 April 1999 |  Cameroon | 1–3 | United States | ||
| Japan | 2–0 |  England | |||
| 15 April 1999 | Japan | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | .svg.png){kind=small} Portugal | 8,000 | Round of 16 |
| Date | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Attendance | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 October 2009 |  Argentina | 1–2 |  Nigeria | 11,467 | Group A |
| 5 November 2009 |  Mexico | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–5 p) |  South Korea | 11,589 | Round of 16 |
| 8 November 2009 |  Colombia | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p) |  Turkey | 11,532 | Quarter-final |
References
- ↑ "U17 World Cup 2009 Nigeria » Stadiums". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
- ↑ "Abubakar Tafewa Balewa Stadium". glimpse.ng. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ "Bauchi Awards N140m Contact For Renovation Of ATB Stadium". theeagleonline.com. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
- ↑ "Bauchi govt to remodel Tafawa Balewa Stadium". Punch. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
- ↑ FIFA.com. "FIFA U-17 World Cup 2009 - Swiss take their place in history". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
- ↑ Kriete, Horst (2009). FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009: Technical Report and Statistics (Report). FIFA. Archived from the original on 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ↑ Hotels.ng. "Abubakar Tafewa Balewa Stadium". Hotels.ng. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ↑ "Renovation Of Abuja Stadium, Others To Gulp N31bn". Daily Trust. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
- ↑ "World Youth Cup (U-20) 1999 (Nigeria, April 3–24)". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2026.