Nelson Mandela Stadium: Football in Gqeberha and the Namesakes

Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth is Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, South Africa, listed at about 46,000 for football and rugby. Chippa United have used this soccer ground as a home since the 2014 to 2015 season, adding a club connection to its history of international fixtures.

The shared name needs sorting before you arrange a journey: Baraki in Algiers has Stade Nelson Mandela, while Namboole near Kampala has Mandela National Stadium. It is rather like confirming which bus terminal someone means before crossing Lagos. Start with the city, then check the ground. Our wider guide to football stadiums helps place these venues within the African game.

What Is the Capacity of Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium?

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is listed at about 46,000 for football and rugby, while its capacity for the 2010 World Cup was 42,486. The World Cup figure therefore belongs beside its year, rather than standing alone as the capacity for every event.

For a practical answer, use about 46,000 for the general ground description and the event seating plan when buying. A match attendance is another measurement again: it counts spectators at that fixture, rather than every seat the venue could accommodate.

Where Is the Stadium and How Do You Get There?

The stadium address is 70 Prince Alfred Road, North End, Gqeberha, in South Africa's Eastern Cape. Older maps and travel listings may use Port Elizabeth or PE for the same city. North End railway station is about 1.3 km from the ground, making it a possible approach when passenger services operate. Before travelling, check current train services and event bus notices, including return options for an evening finish.

Temporary bus stops have been used for match days, but a previous event's arrangements do not establish the service for your fixture. Read the event travel information for any special buses, parking areas and road access changes. If travelling by taxi or arranging a lift, agree a collection point before entering. Keep the return journey separate from the arrival plan, because crowds can change where vehicles are able to stop.

Who Plays at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium?

Chippa United have used Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as a home ground since the 2014 to 2015 season. Chippa give the venue its regular football identity. A home association does not mean every fixture takes place there, however. Read the venue field in the fixtures module before booking travel, then confirm the event details attached to your ticket.

South Africa's first rugby test at the ground was against New Zealand in 2011. For football readers, the useful distinction is between resident clubs and occasional visitors: a national team appearance adds to the ground's history without making that team a permanent tenant. The competition label above each fixture helps keep those uses clear.

When Was the Ground Built and Why Is It Called the Protea?

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was built between 2007 and 2009, with construction costing about R2 billion to R2.1 billion. Visitors first explored the ground at an open day held on 6 June 2009. The Southern Kings then contested its inaugural match against the British and Irish Lions on 16 June 2009, with the Lions winning 20 to 8. The official opening followed on 28 February 2010. These dates describe separate milestones, which explains why accounts can give different answers to when the stadium opened.

Its white roof, shaped like spreading flower petals, gives the ground its Protea nickname. The structure uses coated fabric supported by steel, producing the distinctive outline seen above the stands. Another naming distinction matters here: Gqeberha is the city formerly called Port Elizabeth, while Nelson Mandela Bay remains the stadium's name.

Which World Cup and AFCON Matches Define the Ground?

Gqeberha's tournament programme comprised eight World Cup fixtures in 2010, followed by another eight during AFCON 2013. Its defining World Cup afternoon came on 2 July 2010, when the Netherlands beat Brazil 2 to 1 in the quarter final. That result gives the ground a place in football memory beyond its architecture. Germany also beat Uruguay 3 to 2 here in the 2010 third place match, completing a tournament programme that included group games and knockout football.

African memories belong alongside those fixtures. Ivory Coast drew 0 to 0 with Portugal here on 15 June 2010, while Ghana beat Cape Verde 2 to 0 in the AFCON quarter final on 2 February 2013. Ghana later lost the tournament's third place match to Mali by 3 to 1. Super Eagles supporters can follow the Ghana and Mali fixtures here as part of the same tournament.

Is Baraki Stadium the Same Nelson Mandela Stadium?

Baraki Stadium is a separate venue in Algiers, Algeria, with a listed capacity of 40,784 at its opening in 2023. Stade Nelson Mandela and Stade de Baraki refer to that Algerian ground. Its first match took place on 7 January 2023, followed by its inauguration on 12 January. Those separate occasions explain the January opening dates readers encounter.

Baraki hosted the opening match and final of the 2022 African Nations Championship. It also staged Senegal's 2 to 1 victory over Morocco in the 2023 Under 17 Africa Cup of Nations final. Those African tournament connections make it worth distinguishing properly. Before following directions or buying a ticket, check that the listing says Algiers and Algeria; the Mandela name alone cannot identify the country.

Where Does Kampala's Namboole Fit In?

Mandela National Stadium at Namboole, near Kampala, is the Uganda Cranes' home ground and another separate venue. It opened on 6 December 1997 and underwent renovation between 2019 and 2024. A further expansion programme prompted another closure in September 2025 ahead of AFCON 2027. Confirm access and fixture venues through event updates before travelling, because a construction timetable does not establish when spectators can enter.

What Should Supporters Check Before Attending or Watching?

For a visit to Gqeberha, check the event's ticket instructions, seating block, entrance and permitted items before setting off. The petal roof is part of the ground's appeal, but your chosen seat and the weather will shape the experience more directly. If you want a stadium tour, confirm availability separately from match tickets. A tour listing or a previous opening schedule should not be read as an invitation to arrive without a booking.

For audiences following Chippa or the ground's international visitors, viewing arrangements depend on both the competition and the country of reception. Consult the relevant broadcast listing for your location, whether watching from Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa or Kenya. A Gqeberha kick off at 19:00 SAST corresponds to 18:00 WAT for Nigerian viewers, 20:00 EAT for Kenyan and Ugandan viewers, and 17:00 GMT for Ghanaian viewers. These times illustrate the conversion without announcing an event. Match your viewing plans to the fixture's confirmed start and broadcast information.