Addis Ababa Stadium pitch faces heavy criticism after costly facelift

The Addis Ababa Stadium pitch is under heavy criticism after undergoing a facelift over the past few years. The Ministry of Culture and Sport took responsibility for upgrading the stadium from 2021 onwards, but the playing surface has not shown any improvement, as many question the current state of the facility.

The old Addis Ababa ground, opened in 1940, hosted three African Cup of Nations tournaments in 1962, 1968, and 1976. It has served as the main venue for the senior national teams of both genders for more than five decades. The renovation work took more than three years, with new seats installed and VIP rooms constructed. The dressing rooms were also revamped in the process.

Nonetheless, the natural grass pitch is poorly maintained, limiting the speed of passes and player movement during matches.

Addis Ababa Pitch Criticized

In the CBE Ethiopian Premier League, players struggled to control even simple passes. Top-flight coaches have complained about the condition of the pitch, while many fans took to social media, mainly Faceboo,k to voice their discontent over the poor playing surface.

The Ministry of Culture and Sport previously stated that the facelift was being carried out in accordance with FIFA and CAF regulations. However, the sentiment is not shared by many following the outcome. Last week, the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) asked CAF to evaluate the stadium to determine whether it can host continental matches.

The Addis Ababa Stadium is currently hosting the 2025/26 Ethiopian Premier League games.

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