Al Salam Stadium: Cairo Football Ground and African Fan Guide

Al Salam Stadium is an all-seated football ground in Al Salam City, Cairo, Egypt, opened in 2009 with about 30,000 seats. El Entag El Harby is a listed tenant, and Al Ahly announced a stadium agreement in December 2019. For football and soccer supporters across Africa, its strongest international association is Nigeria's bronze medal match at AFCON 2019.

A stadium name can work like a Lagos bus stop: familiar enough to everyone until you need the precise destination. This ground is separate from Cairo International Stadium. Among Africa's football stadiums, Salam Stadium deserves attention for its tournament history and a Super Eagles result that gives Nigerian readers a clear point of recognition.

What Is the Capacity of Al Salam Stadium?

Al Salam Stadium opened in 2009 with a capacity of 30,000, with seating throughout the ground. The playing surface is 105 metres long and 68 metres wide, and the stadium was renovated in 2019 before staging Africa Cup of Nations matches.

Capacity and attendance answer different questions: one describes the ground, while the other counts spectators at a particular fixture. Attendances across the nine AFCON 2019 matches here ranged from about 5,000 up to about 27,500. That is a documented tournament range, rather than a confirmed all-time attendance record. An individual match's ticket allocation should therefore be checked separately from the stadium capacity and from any historical attendance.

Who Plays at Al Salam Stadium?

El Entag El Harby is the listed tenant, while Al Ahly's link comes through its December 2019 stadium agreement. El Entag El Harby means Military Production, and the club is owned by Egypt's Ministry of Military Production. Founded in 2004, it reached the Egyptian Premier League in 2009 and finished seventh in its first top division season, 2009/10, linking its breakthrough with the stadium's opening year.

A listed tenancy does not establish where every home fixture will take place, particularly when a stadium accommodates different clubs and competitions. Use the live fixtures module to identify the teams, competition and venue for the match you want. For Al Ahly followers across Africa, the distinction matters: the club's stadium agreement should not become an assumption that every Al Ahly fixture belongs here.

Which Major Tournaments Has Al Salam Stadium Hosted?

Al Salam Stadium hosted Group B at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup and nine matches at AFCON 2019. Nigeria's Flying Eagles played here in 2009, including a 1-0 defeat by Venezuela on 25 September and a 2-0 defeat by Spain on 28 September. Spain's 8-0 victory over Tahiti on 25 September also belongs to the ground's opening tournament history.

The AFCON assignment followed a venue change announced on 13 March 2019, when Al Salam replaced the proposed Port Said ground. Its tournament programme ran from 23 June to 17 July 2019 and included Tunisia's 3-0 quarter-final victory over Madagascar. Nigeria then beat Tunisia 1-0 in the third-place match. That final appearance on the stadium's AFCON schedule supplies its defining Super Eagles memory.

How Do I Get to Al Salam Stadium?

Al Salam Stadium Cairo is in Al Salam City, Cairo, so plan your journey around that district. If arriving through Cairo airport, arrange a road transfer to your accommodation or the ground, checking the destination pin carefully. A taxi or ride-hailing journey is a practical option to investigate, but allow the driver to confirm the precise stadium entrance and any matchday access restrictions.

A verified public transport route and dependable journey time are not established here, so check local arrangements before travelling. Nigerian supporters retracing the Super Eagles' 2019 bronze medal match should search for Al Salam City, while Bafana Bafana and Uganda Cranes followers who remember fixtures at Cairo International Stadium should not reuse that pin. Kenyan fans who followed Harambee Stars at AFCON 2019 and Ghanaian fans recalling the Black Satellites' 2009 triumph in Egypt can apply the same rule: the stadium name must match the fixture. Ask your accommodation or match organiser about access, collection points and the return journey after the final whistle, and save the stadium's full name and location before leaving.

Who Owns the Stadium?

Al Ahly announced on 4 December 2019 that it had acquired the stadium from the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production for 25 years, until 2045. The published agreement includes an option to return the ground if Al Ahly's new stadium is built.

Al Salam Stadium is the clearest name for identifying the venue, with Salam Stadium another familiar rendering. Its basic timeline is straightforward: opening and youth World Cup football in 2009, renovation and AFCON in 2019, followed by the Al Ahly agreement that December.

Why Does This Ground Matter to African Football Fans?

Nigeria's 1-0 victory over Tunisia at AFCON 2019 gives Al Salam its strongest connection with the five readership countries. A third-place play-off carries a different feeling from a final, but it still decides who leaves with a medal. For Super Eagles supporters, that result sits alongside the Flying Eagles' Group B appearances in 2009, giving this Cairo ground a place in both senior and youth tournament memories.

The other connections need their correct venues attached. Ghana's Black Satellites became the first African U-20 world champions in Egypt in 2009. Bafana Bafana's 1-0 win over Egypt and Uganda Cranes' 2-0 victory over DR Congo at AFCON 2019 were at Cairo International Stadium. Kenya's Harambee Stars took part in the same AFCON 2019 tournament, which gives Kenyan readers a shared Egyptian reference point alongside the Nigerian result. These are shared tournament memories, rather than Al Salam match records.

What Should Visiting Supporters Check Before Matchday?

Visiting supporters should confirm the venue, ticket arrangements and entry instructions for their particular fixture before setting out. Follow the organiser's published ticket information and check whether collection or identification requirements apply. Historical capacity does not tell you which sections will open or what access a ticket provides. Keep your booking details available and leave enough flexibility for the journey and the entrance process.

The ground's all-seated layout provides the basic expectation, but your stand and seat determine the individual view. Check any published guidance about permitted bags and accessibility before travelling, rather than assuming arrangements match another Cairo venue. Supporters from Kenya, Uganda and Ghana who remember AFCON 2019 or the 2009 youth tournament should make sure the gate and stand details belong to their own fixture, not an earlier event. For an evening match, settle the return journey in advance. Confirming a collection point with your driver can make leaving the stadium easier when other spectators are departing.

How Can Fans Follow Matches From Across Africa?

Read each fixture's kick-off time alongside its named time zone: WAT for Nigeria, EAT for Kenya and Uganda, SAST for South Africa and GMT for Ghana. Egyptian local time needs attention because seasonal clock arrangements can affect the conversion. The fixtures module should provide the local equivalent, avoiding assumptions based on a previous tournament's schedule.

Viewing information belongs with the individual fixture because coverage depends on the competition and territory. Before arranging a viewing centre gathering in Lagos or watching by phone in Kampala, check the country-specific broadcast information. The same applies in Nairobi and Accra. First confirm that the fixture names Al Salam Stadium, then check the kick-off zone and available coverage for your country.