Renovation works at Lusaka’s National Heroes Stadium are nearing completion, raising fresh optimism that international football could soon return to Zambia’s capital.
New images shared on social media by the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, show a fully re-laid pitch with lush green grass, as well as near-finished rehabilitation works around the iconic venue.
The government had previously indicated that renovation works at the 60,000-seater stadium would be completed by January 2026, a deadline that has since passed. However, the latest visuals circulating online have fuelled optimism among football stakeholders and fans that the facility is edging closer to reopening.
National Heroes Stadium was closed in 2024 after its playing surface and surrounding infrastructure deteriorated to what authorities described as a deplorable state, rendering it unfit for both domestic and international matches.
Once a flagship sporting facility, the stadium is one of only two CAF-certified venues in Zambia, alongside Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
According to the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, the rehabilitation programme has included major works on the pitch, drainage system and other critical infrastructure required to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards.
Officially opened in 2014, National Heroes Stadium was constructed at a cost of approximately US$94 million. The project was financed through a loan from China and was designed to host major international sporting events and national celebrations.
