The Mobolaji Johnson Arena, previously known as Onikan Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Lagos,[1] Nigeria It is currently used for football matches and is the home stadium of 1472 FC, First Bank FC, Ikorodu City FC, Inter Lagos, Julius Berger FC, Prince Kazeem Eleku FC, Smart City FC, Sporting Lagos, Stationery Stores FC and Valiant FC.[2]
Onikan Stadium | |
 | |
| Address | Lagos Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1930 |
| Tenants | |
| Sporting Lagos | |
The Mobolaji Johnson Arena has a capacity of 10,000 people and is the oldest in Nigeria. Located on the southeastern corner of Lagos Island near Tafewa Balewa Square, the original stadium was built in 1930 and six years later named after King George V. Between 1963 and 1973, it became known as the Lagos City Stadium. The current Onikan Stadium was renovated and reopened for football and cultural activities in the 1980s. In March 2008, the stadium was banned for use for the rest of the season by the Nigeria Football League when a pitch invasion injured many members of the Warri Wolves after a scoreless draw with First Bank.[3][4]
In 2019, it was renamed by the Lagos state government, from Onikan Stadium to Mobolaji Johnson Arena.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Akanni, Aishat (2024-06-24). "NFF Announces New Venue for Federation Cup Final". Latest Sports News In Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ Adesanya, Taiwo (2024-06-18). "Sporting Lagos deserved victory over Enyimba - Odibo". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- ^ Ugbana, Ben (2019-12-03). "LAGOS: Newly-renovated 5000-capacity Onikan stadium gets new name". Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ "Lagos Government renames Onikan Stadium after Mobolaji Johnson". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ "Lagos Government renames Onikan Stadium after Mobolaji Johnson". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
External links
edit
Media related to Onikan Stadium at Wikimedia Commons- NFL shuts down Onikan Stadium
- http://www.city-data.com/world-cities/Lagos-Sports.html
- www.guardiannewsngr.com/sports/article10/090207 Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
- Blog with game notes,pictures
6°26′33″N 3°24′8″E / 6.44250°N 3.40222°E