Why Stadiums Are Cheaper to Build in North Africa Than in Other Parts of Africa
Across Africa, the cost of constructing modern football stadiums varies dramatically. Recent comparisons between North African countries and Sub-Saharan Africa have raised serious questions about why stadium projects in countries like Egypt and Morocco appear significantly cheaper than similar or even smaller projects elsewhere on the continent.
For example, the 65,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Morocco, which hosted the 2025 AFCON Final, was constructed at an estimated cost of about 75 million US dollars. In contrast, stadiums used for the 2021 and 2023 AFCON finals in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire reportedly cost over 200 million US dollars. An even starker contrast is seen between Uganda’s Hoima City Stadium, a 20,000-seat facility built at a cost of about 131 million US dollars, and a 90,000-plus capacity stadium in Egypt constructed for the equivalent of roughly 20 million US dollars.
Strong Domestic Construction Industries
North African countries benefit from long-established and highly experienced construction industries. Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria have large domestic firms that routinely build highways, bridges, housing estates, airports, and sports infrastructure. Stadium construction in these countries is not treated as a rare or experimental project, but as a routine engineering task.
Because of this experience, local companies already possess heavy machinery, skilled engineers, project managers, and stadium-specific expertise. This significantly reduces setup costs and eliminates the need to import large technical teams.
In many Sub-Saharan African countries, stadium projects are infrequent and treated as prestige developments. Contractors are often assembled specifically for a single project, increasing costs and inefficiencies.
Local Production of Construction Materials
Another key factor is access to locally produced materials. North African countries produce large quantities of cement, steel, glass, and precast concrete domestically. Many stadium components, including seating and roofing systems, are manufactured within the region.
By contrast, stadium projects in much of Sub-Saharan Africa depend heavily on imported materials. Steel, roofing systems, floodlights, and even seats are often shipped from Europe, Asia, or the Middle East. Importation adds shipping costs, customs charges, currency risks, and logistical delays, all of which inflate final project costs.
Project Design and Execution Models
Most North African stadiums are designed and built using functional, modular approaches. The focus is on durability, capacity, and efficiency rather than architectural spectacle. Designs are often reused or adapted from existing models, reducing design fees and engineering complexity.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, stadiums are frequently designed as iconic landmarks. Complex roofs, advanced digital systems, and unique architectural features increase both construction and maintenance costs. When foreign consultants and international engineering firms are involved, professional fees and risk premiums further raise the budget.
Labor Productivity and Construction Speed
While labor costs may be lower in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, productivity often lags due to limited mechanization, skills shortages, and weaker project management. Construction timelines are therefore longer, sometimes stretching over five to seven years.
In North Africa, projects are heavily mechanized and tightly managed, allowing stadiums to be completed in much shorter periods. Faster construction reduces financing costs, inflationary pressures, and contract variations.
Procurement, Governance, and Cost Control
Governance plays an indirect but important role. In many Sub-Saharan countries, stadium projects are politically symbolic and vulnerable to procurement inefficiencies, frequent design changes, and delayed payments. Cost overruns caused by contract renegotiations and project stoppages can double or even triple original budgets.
North African governments typically centralize decision-making, lock project costs early, and enforce strict penalties for delays. This discipline limits unnecessary variations and keeps costs under control.
Financing Structures Matter More Than Stadium Size
Many expensive stadiums in Sub-Saharan Africa are built using external loans tied to foreign contractors. These arrangements include interest payments, insurance, currency hedging, and guaranteed profit margins.
In contrast, many North African stadiums are funded directly through state budgets or domestic financing, eliminating many hidden costs. This explains why a larger stadium can sometimes cost far less than a smaller one built under a complex loan-financed model.
The Way Forward
For stadium construction to become affordable across Africa, countries must invest in local construction industries, encourage domestic production of materials, standardize stadium designs, strengthen procurement systems, and prioritize efficiency over prestige.
Until these structural changes occur, the cost gap between North Africa and the rest of the continent is likely to persist.
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