Martyrs of February Stadium
| Location | Benina (east of Benghazi), Libya |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°4′59.9999″N 20°16′0″E / 32.083333306°N 20.26667°ECoordinates: 32°4′59.9999″N 20°16′0″E / 32.083333306°N 20.26667°E |
| Owner | Libyan Football Federation |
| Operator | Benghazi clubs |
| Capacity | 10,550 |
| Field size | 68 metres (74 yd) by 105 metres (115 yd) |
| Surface | Artificial |
| Construction | |
| Built | February 2008-March 2009 |
| Opened | 5 March 2009 |
| Tenants | |
| Al Ahly Benghazi, Al Hilal, Al Nasr | |
Martyrs of February Stadium (Arabic: ملعب شهداء فبراير), otherwise known as Benina Martyrs Stadium (Arabic: ملعب شهداء بنينة) and until 2011 officially named Hugo Chávez Football Stadium (Arabic: ملعب هوغو شافيز), is a Libyan football stadium located in Benina, a town 19 km east of Benghazi. The stadium was constructed by the same company that built the Brita-Arena in Germany. The stadium holds 10,550 people. This is Libya's first all-seater stadium. The stadium will be used by most Benghazi clubs, and may be used by the national team as well. The surface of the pitch is artificial. The pitch's dimensions are 105m x 68m. The cost of construction of the stadium was around LYD 20 million.
The stadium was originally named after Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, due to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's close friendship with him. However, following the Libyan Civil War, it was announced that the stadium had been renamed in honour of the so-called Martyrs of February, the people who were killed in fighting to gain control over Eastern Libya.
The stadium was opened on 5 March 2009, as the Libya U-23 team played the Syria U-23 in a friendly. A capacity crowd watched the match finish 2-1 to the Syrians, with Libya and Al Ahly Benghazi's Ihab Ghafir becoming the first player to score at the stadium, in the 28th minute.
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