National Stadium Football Pitch Renovation in Chad

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Football is at the heart of public life in Chad, and the Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya in N'Djamena is the country's most important sporting venue. Originally built in the 1970s and last renovated in 2010, the stadium had fallen out of use and was closed for several years, leaving the capital without a home for national competition. Its complete renovation and reopening in June 2026 returned the country's football temple to the people. UNIGRASS supplying three of the surfaces and fittings that define the fan and player experience — the artificial football turf, the athletics running track and the spectator seating.

The Challenge — Rebuilding a Landmark for International-Level Play

1. A Harsh Sahel Climate

N'Djamena experiences some of the most punishing conditions for sports surfaces anywhere: prolonged intense sunlight, very high temperatures and long dry, dusty seasons. Any turf, track or seating installed here must resist UV colour-fade and material fatigue year after year, not just look good on opening day.

2. A Venue That Had to Meet Modern Competition Requirements

The stadium had been out of service and no longer met the requirements for hosting continental and international-level matches. Every surface had to be upgraded to a standard fit for professional football and athletics, so that Chad could once again host top-tier competition at home.

3. Multi-Discipline, Not Just Football

As an multi-sport stadium, the venue needed a professional-grade football pitch and a full athletics running track working together within the same footprint — plus tens of thousands of durable seats to serve a greatly expanded capacity.

4. High-Capacity Public Use

With capacity raised from 20,000 to 30,000, the seating had to be safe, comfortable and hard-wearing enough for very large, passionate crowds over many years of intensive public use.

UNIGRASS Solution

1. Professional-Grade Artificial Football Turf

UNIGRASS supplied a full-size artificial football turf engineered to deliver a true, consistent playing surface that meets international match-level performance standards. The dense polyethylene fibres are UV-stabilised to resist colour-fade and degradation under intense sun, keeping their rich green appearance and elasticity season after season. Precisely set line markings and a stable, even surface give players reliable ball roll and footing for competitive football, while the turf tolerates heavy, year-round use in a hot, dry environment.

2. High-Performance Athletics Running Track

UNIGRASS's running track provides a resilient, all-weather athletics surface with crisp, durable lane markings. The track balances the shock absorption and energy return athletes need, as well as the wear resistance required for a busy national venue. It provides a safe, professional running surface that retains its colour and performance under intense sun and heat.

3. Durable Stadium Spectator Seating

UNIGRASS supplied the stadium spectator seating for the expanded stadium grandstand, taking capacity to 30,000. The UV-stabilised seats are designed for long service life in extreme sunlight, resisting fading, cracking and brittleness. Arranged in bold multi-colour blocks across the stands, the seats create the stadium’s vibrant, distinctive look. They offer safe, comfortable seating for large crowds.

4. One-Stop Turnkey Stadium Solution

We delivered the football turf, athletics track and spectator seating as one complete turnkey package for this multi-sport venue. It comprises a competition-ready pitch, a professional athletics track, and stands built to accommodate tens of thousands of fans.

RESULTS and OUTCOMES

The renewed Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya officially reopened in June 2026, once again giving Chad a national venue capable of hosting top-level football and athletics. With the pitch, track and seating renewed, the stadium hosted the national championship final on its reopening in front of a full, passionate crowd — a fitting return for the country's football temple.

For UNIGRASS, this project proves we can supply multiple core stadium systems for a high-profile national landmark. The works meet international competition standards, even within one of Africa’s harshest climates.