As Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi oversaw the project. The stadium's official construction cost is put at around $284 million (163 billion CFA) following some financing controversy. The complex is reported to have encouraged the development of other otherwise unutilised areas, with new roads, eating and drinking establishments, hostels, and play grounds among other facilities. The intended official delivery of first-phase construction, including the main stadium, when the Cameroonian Football Federation would take ownership of the facility, was meant to occur on 30 November 2021, postponed first to 3 December 2021, but was postponed again. The
Confederation of African Football (CAF) had expressed concerns throughout the construction process about the pace of completion. The second-phase of construction, covering the swimming pool and other sports courts, is intended to be completed after the end of AFCON. The steel-roof of the main stadium, which is decorated in the colours of Cameroon's flag, was designed by Maeg, who specialise in steel structures. The first match held at the Stadium was on 3 September 2021: a
FIFA World Cup African Qualifier game between Cameroon and
Malawi, which Cameroon won 2–0. == 2022 Africa Cup of Nations Tragedy ==