Burkina Faso: 4-Août stadium refurbishment drags on

Announced on several occasions by different sports ministers, the completion of the refurbishment works at the 4-Août stadium in Ouagadougou has once again been put back. The works began on 27 October 2021 and were scheduled to last 11 months, after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) suspended the stadium on 2 March for failing to meet international standards. September 2022 had been announced for the first match of the Burkina Faso national team, the Étalons, but the presentation of the progress made on the refurbishment site left many in Burkinabé sport perplexed. They are far from convinced by the details given by the contractor. The Burkinabé state, under pressure, is defending itself through four sports ministers who have handled the file over the past 15 months.

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Launched under Dominique Nana, after the coup d'état of 22 January 2022, the file passed to Abdoul Wabou Drabo, who in turn noted on 19 August 2022 that the works were only 37% complete, when they should have reached 88% by that point. "Looking at the work that remains, we can already say the deadline will not be met. There are reasons to be satisfied, and the people in charge of the site assure us that everything will be ready by the Étalons' next match," said Abdoul Wabou Drabo after his visit to the refurbishment works at the 4-Août stadium.

13 million dollars already paid out

Following his visit to the site, the case took a judicial turn with the arrest of three people. On 30 September, Issifou Sirima inherited the file after the military coup d'état. On 27 December 2022, in a meeting with the sports federations, he said the 4-Août stadium in Ouagadougou would be ready to host football matches from March 2023, once the refurbishment works were finished. "The reality of the 4-Août stadium is what makes me smile; it is joy, it is peace. The reality ahead is bright. In March, the 4-Août stadium in Ouagadougou will be operational", he assured. That statement was contradicted by Boubakar Savadogo, the newly appointed sports minister. After yet another visit on 17 January, Boubakar Savadogo was full of regret and apology: "It hurts every Burkinabé to see that the Étalons are not playing in the stadium," he said regretfully. "I apologise from the bottom of my heart to the Étalons' supporters that the Étalons will not be able to play at the 4-Août stadium. I will do everything I can to change things." According to our information, the 4-Août stadium in Ouagadougou will not be operational before next June. The Étalons will therefore have to wait longer before playing at home. The project will cost 23 million 275 thousand 144 dollars. It is governed by six contracts. According to the current sports minister, Boubakar Savadogo, 13 million 300 thousand 082 dollars have already been paid out. Ablam GNAMESSO