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Harambee Stars will host Burundi and Ivory Coast at Malawi’s Bingu National Stadium and here is everything you need to know about the sports facility in Lilongwe.
Harambee Stars will play their home 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi in June.
Kenya had to seek an alternative venue owing to the lack of an approved stadium in the country and opted to settle on the 41,000-seater facility in Malawi’s capital for the June 7 and 11 qualifiers.
As Harambee Stars players and Kenyan fans plan to travel to Lilongwe for the two matches, Pulse Sports tells you all you need to know about the facility.
Named after ex-President
The Bingu National Stadium was named after former Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika and has a capacity of 41,100.
It took nearly five years before it was opened with the groundbreaking happening in July 2012 before it was officially inaugurated in January 2017.
Chinese firm Beijing Institute of Architectural Design did the design with Chinese contractor AFECC, also known as SOGECOA, doing the construction.
Cost
The stadium is estimated to have cost $70 million (Ksh9.2 billion), as per current exchange rate, and was funded through a loan extended to Malawi by China Eximbank which was to be paid back in 20 years.
What makes it unique?
The stadium is multipurpose and has two covered and two open stands; an eight-lane standard running track; 56 lounges, medical centre; a police unit; two stand-by diesel powered generators of 800kw; and a 32,000-litre fire Hydrant water tank.
It also has an indoor training running track; two VVIP and two VIP lounges; four dressing rooms; two referee rooms; five event management rooms and three management rooms.
There are also eight shopping spaces at the stadium; two VVIP lifts; 800 toilets; and a 400-car parking space among other facilities.
Rescued other teams before
Kenya will not be the first country, other than Malawi itself, to host matches at the facility. It became Ethiopia’s home ground during the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as the country, just like Kenya, did not have an approved stadium at home.
Familiar ground
Harambee Stars have good memories of Bingu National Stadium as it is the venue where they won the Four Nations Tournament in March.
Kenya started their campaign with a 4-1 against hosts Malawi before a Michael Olunga hat-trick saw them come from behind to beat Zimbabwe 3-1 and claim the trophy.
They will be hoping that they are third time lucky at the same venue next month when Burundi and Ivory Coast come visiting.
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