Okocha, Taye Taiwo, Adebayor Shine As Ibrahim Traore Opens Burkina Faso Stadium, Video
- Jay Jay Okocha, Emmanuel Adebayor, and other African football legends headlined a charity match at the newly renovated August 4th Stadium in Ouagadougou
- Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traore commissioned the facility on August 4, 2025, and organised an exhibition match
- The $300 million project has now met CAF and FIFA standards, while it has also ended a four-year ban
Nigerian football legends Jay Jay Okocha and Taye Taiwo were in town as President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso celebrated a historic milestone with the grand reopening of the renovated August 4th Stadium in Ouagadougou.
After a four-year ban, the once-dilapidated arena has now been transformed into a world-class facility, meeting CAF and FIFA standards following a $300 million project.
A star-studded charity football match was organised alongside cultural performances, which showcased Burkina Faso’s resilience and ambition on a continental stage.
Source: Facebook
The exhibition match pitted African football legends against Burkina Faso’s Defense and Security Forces (FDS), led by President Traore himself.
Icons like Nigeria’s Jay Jay Okocha, Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, and Mali’s Seydou Keita graced the event.
Others include Taye Taiwo, Charles Kabore, Rigobert Song, and Alex Song, who all dazzled fans despite the rain-soaked pitch. Footage showed the packed stadium with the country's leader also showing off his skills.
The newly revamped August 4th Stadium now boasts modern seating, VIP lounges, digital scoreboards, and an impressive athletics track.
The facility will host the country's national team when they take on Egypt in a FIFA World Cup qualifier on September 8.
Speaking on behalf of the legends, four-time CAF Player of the Year Award recipient Samuel Eto’o, praised Traore’s vision and the warm hospitality. He said via Summit Post:
“First of all, we want to thank you for welcoming us into our home, into your home. We had the immense pleasure of being received by His Excellency, the President of Burkina Faso, who is a source of pride for the Africa we love.
“Beyond expressing feelings of happiness and joy at having exchanged with Captain Ibrahim Traoré, it is about sharing with the President of Faso and all Burkinabè, a beautiful moment for the reopening of the August 4 Stadium.
“I hope that for those who are in Ouagadougou for the first time, it won’t be their last. We have to come back because Burkina Faso is a part of Africa, and as you can see, all these legends have brought so many smiles to this continent. We feel at home everywhere on our continent.”
Source: Instagram
PSG honour club legend Okocha
Legit.ng earlier reported that French giants Paris Saint-Germain have paid a heartfelt tribute to their club legend Jay Jay Okocha, who was on a tour to Rwanda as part of the Visit Rwanda campaign.
The Ligue 1 outfit shared a special video message featuring the mercurial midfielder and ex-star Didier Domi, as they expressed excitement about their visit, while they discussed business opportunities.
Source: Legit.ng
