Baba Yara Stadium
info Stadium Snapshot
- Address Sports Road, Adum, Kumasi
- Capacity 40,528
- Surface Natural grass
- Built 1959
- Renovated 2007 (ahead of AFCON 2008)
- Record attendance 45,000 (1970s Super Clash)
- Architect Ghana Min. of Works + Housing · China Jiangxi Corp.
- Owner Ghana Ministry of Youth and Sports
Kumasi, Ghana
Sports Road, Adum, Kumasi, Ashanti Region
Find Your Best View
Home End (Kotoko supporters)
The most atmospheric section — organised Kotoko ultras, flares at Super Clash and CAF Champions League matches, brass band on the concourse. Behind the goal.
Main Stand (Covered, East)
Best view — covered, midpoint of the pitch, cushioned seats including VIP sections. TV-camera side.
Family Block (West Stand)
Mixed crowd, quieter, recommended with children. Covered. No flares policy enforced.
Away End (Block D, Gate 4)
Segregation zone for travelling fans (Hearts of Oak, Medeama, CAF visitors). Separate entry (Gate D), separate concessions, police escort.
How to get there
directions_car
By car
5–15 min from Kumasi city centre
add
By car
5–15 min from Kumasi city centre
Typical Fare
Indicative pricing
The stadium sits on Sports Road, Adum — walking distance from Kejetia Central Market in Kumasi's commercial heart. From Kejetia the drive is 5 minutes off-peak and 15–20 minutes on a Super Clash or Kotoko big-match day. Access from the Kumasi Airport (KMS) is 10 km / 15 minutes.
- arrow_right Stadium parking capacity is limited — ~1,800 bays — and fills 90 minutes before kick-off on derby days
- arrow_right Many fans park at Prempeh II Jubilee Park (10-minute walk) and walk in
- arrow_right Avoid driving through Kejetia on matchday — heavy taxi + tro-tro congestion
local_taxi
By taxi / ride-hail
Bolt from anywhere in Kumasi
add
By taxi / ride-hail
Bolt from anywhere in Kumasi
Typical Fare
Indicative pricing
Bolt is the dominant ride-hail option in Kumasi. Drivers accept match-day fares more reliably than in Accra. Request rides from the designated pickup area on Sports Road rather than the stadium perimeter.
- arrow_right Cash or card both work on Bolt in Kumasi
- arrow_right Uber is also available but has fewer drivers in Kumasi than Bolt
- arrow_right Informal 'dropping taxis' cost less but no price transparency — agree fare before getting in
directions_bus
By public transport
Tro-tro from any Kumasi district
add
By public transport
Tro-tro from any Kumasi district
Typical Fare
Indicative pricing
Tro-tros (shared minibuses) run from every major Kumasi district to Adum throughout match-day for GHS 2–4. The 'Stadium' or 'Adum' stop is two minutes walk from the main stadium entrance. Crowded but the most authentic Kumasi match-day experience.
- arrow_right From Kejetia Central Market: any Adum-bound tro-tro
- arrow_right From Suame: Adum-direct tro-tro or walk after the central market
- arrow_right Return tro-tros queue at the Prempeh Assembly Hall junction
flight
From the airport
10 km · 15 minutes
add
From the airport
10 km · 15 minutes
Kumasi International Airport (KMS) is 10 km from the stadium — easily the closest African major-club stadium to an international airport. Taxis are readily available at arrivals. Bolt works at the airport.
- arrow_right Pre-book a driver with your hotel if arriving match-day morning
- arrow_right Airport → stadium: Bolt GHS 25–40 · airport taxi GHS 40–60
Where to buy tickets
Asante Kotoko Ticketing + Ghana FA portal
Asante Kotoko runs league-match ticketing through scasantekotoko.com/tickets and the club's physical ticket office at the Manhyia grounds. Super Clash tickets and CAF Champions League tickets flow through the Ghana FA match-day portal.
Check current fixtures open_in_newWhitelisted secondary market
When the official portal sells out, these are the only resellers we recommend.
Match-Day Timeline
Stadium gates open
Super Clash requires earlier arrival — body search, long turnstile queues
Kickoff −3hWarm-up begins
Limited concessions open; full food service from −1h
−2hTeam arrival
Kotoko players walk from the Manhyia side on derby days
−90 minStadium announcement
Pre-match entertainment + Asantehene's ceremonial blessing (Super Clashes)
−30 minMatch begins
KickoffHalf-time concessions
Queues peak at 45–55 min; plan accordingly
HTControlled exit
Home-end blocks released first, away fans held 30 min for safety
FT +20 minSafety & fan tips
Kumasi match-days are generally peaceful and security is visible. The Ghana Police Service deploys 600–800 officers at Super Clash fixtures, 300+ at regular GPL matches. The highest-risk periods are the two hours before kick-off and the 30 minutes after the final whistle, and the sharpest pickpocket risk is at the Kejetia-side exit gates.
- security Visible security at every gate. Body search includes bag + outer clothing. Comply quickly — 2 minutes through the line off-peak, 8 minutes on derby day.
- payments Keep cash in two separate pockets or use MTN Mobile Money. Pickpockets target the Kejetia-side exit and the turnstile crush at Gate A.
- warning Do not wear Hearts of Oak purple-and-yellow in the Kotoko home end on Super Clash day. The Ghana Police will move you to the away end for your own safety.
- medical_services On-site Ghana Red Cross at Gate B. Ghana Ambulance Service at Gate D. First aid at every stairwell.
- do_not_disturb Do not photograph security personnel or the turnstile checkpoint. Phone + camera use is fine inside the bowl.
Accessibility
- accessible Wheelchair-accessible viewing platform at Block E (south-east), capacity 80
- elevator No elevator — ramps to all ground-level blocks; main stand upper level is stairs-only (known limitation)
- hearing No hearing-loop infrastructure — request portable receiver from Gate B reception 60 min pre kick-off
- local_parking Accessible parking at North Car Park Bay 1–12 — reserved, book via Kotoko ticketing
- family_restroom Accessible washrooms at Gate B concourse and main stand level
- volunteer_activism Companion ticket free — apply to Kotoko ticketing 7+ days in advance with medical documentation
Where to stay and eat nearby
Hotels — walkable
Kumasi's four-star flagship; walkable to the stadium. CAF officials and Ghana FA stay here on Super Clash weekends.
Book on Golden Tulipopen_in_newModern business-grade hotel with reliable airport shuttle. Kotoko players occasionally use the facility for recovery sessions.
Book directopen_in_newClosest mid-range option. Clean, safe, simple. Travelling Hearts of Oak away fans stay here.
Check Booking.comopen_in_newPre-match bars
Full Ghanaian grill + big-screen football. Popular with GFA officials and visiting media.
Mixed crowd, TV coverage, outdoor seating. Good for families pre-kickoff.
Walking distance, Ghanaian + continental menu, sells out on Super Clash days.
Post-match food
Chinese and Thai fusion. Open late; queue manageable even on derby nights.
Legendary waakye street-food stall. Queue until midnight on match-days. Opens at 18:00.
Nigerian + Ghanaian menu, late-night. Safe pick for a sit-down post-match dinner.
Historical Significance
Baba Yara Stadium was built in 1959 by the Ghana Ministry of Works and Housing as the Kumasi Sports Stadium. Renamed in 1988 after Alhaji Salifu 'Baba Yara' — the Ghanaian footballer and Black Stars midfielder who died in a car crash in 1969. Fully refurbished ahead of the 2008 AFCON by China Jiangxi Corporation (new seating bowl, pitch replacement, floodlight upgrade, full concourse rewire). It has hosted two AFCON tournaments (1978 Ghana, 2008 Ghana), CAF Champions League fixtures for Asante Kotoko, and every Super Clash played in Kumasi since 1970. The 2007 renovation pushed capacity to the current 40,528, slightly below the pre-renovation bench-seat peak of 45,000.
Built
1959
Renovated
2007
Surface
Natural grass
Record
45,000
Notable matches
CAF Champions League final second leg. Kotoko's second CAF CL title, won on a nerve-jangling penalty shootout in front of 40,000 in Kumasi.
AFCON 2008 quarter-final at Baba Yara — Michael Essien's performance of his career. Over 40,000 attendance; the single loudest Black Stars match of the century.
Super Clash of the century — Kotoko clinched the league title in the 90th minute of the final matchday. Replayed on GTV every anniversary.
Kwame Poku's opener + two more in the second half. First Super Clash played in front of fans post-COVID. Kotoko went on to win the 2021–22 title by 11 points.
help Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capacity of Baba Yara Stadium? add
Where is Baba Yara Stadium located? add
How much are Super Clash tickets at Baba Yara? add
Is there parking at Baba Yara Stadium? add
What is the best seat at Baba Yara Stadium? add
When was Baba Yara Stadium built? add
Who plays at Baba Yara Stadium? add
How do I get to Baba Yara Stadium without a car? add
Who owns Baba Yara Stadium? add
Related Pages
Last updated 2026-04-21 · written by Kwame Owusu.