Heroes National Stadium[2] is a multi-purpose stadium in Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and hosts the home matches of the Zambia national football team. The stadium holds 60,000 spectators.[3] It opened in 2014. The name of the stadium refers to the 1993 Zambia national football team air disaster which took the lives of most of its national football team.

National Heroes Stadium
Map
Former namesGabon Disaster Heroes National Stadium
LocationLusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia
Coordinates15°22′10″S 28°16′22″E / 15.369507°S 28.272641°E / -15.369507; 28.272641
TypeMulti-purpose stadium
Capacity60,000[2]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground10 January 2011
Built2011–2014
Opened2014
Construction costUS$94 million[1]
Main contractorsShanghai Construction Company
Tenants
Zambia national football team (2014–present)

History

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Birds-eye view of National Heroes Stadium

Upon completion of construction in 2013, it was originally named the Gabon Disaster Heroes National Stadium because of this, but the ruling Patriotic Front government was pressured to change the name by the populace.

On 7 July 2021, a state funeral of former President Kenneth Kaunda was held at the National Heroes Stadium.

Geography

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View of Heroes Stadium from Zanimone Compound

The stadium's location is in the Matero suburb of Lusaka (Zambia's Capital City) on the Great North Road (T2 Road).[4][5]

The Heroes National Stadium is located right next to where the refurbished Independence Stadium and the Heroes Acres Memorial where the players who died in the Gabon air disaster in 1993 are buried.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Quality sports Infrastructure will make Zambia win Africa Cup-RB" (Lusaka Times, 10-1-2011)
  2. ^ a b "Zambia complete construction of Heroes National Stadium" (BBC, 12-1-2014)
  3. ^ "Guide to National Heroes Stadium". Groundhop. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Heroes National Stadium and 3 more top Stadia near Chibombo - Tripsuccor". Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  5. ^ "National Heroes Stadium · Great North Road, 31749, Lusaka 10101, Zambia".