The stadium was constructed by the Chinese contractor Covec and completed in 2007 with a capacity of 22,000 people in a single tier pre-cast concrete structure.

It was expanded in 2011 with a new steel substructure upper tier to a 35,000 capacity as one of the host stadiums for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations including the opening ceremony and semi-final matches.

In 2011, Bouygues were appointed as contractors to expand the seating capacity to 35,000 for the hosting of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations tournament semi-final venue.

On 14 November 2014 CAF announced that oil rich Equatorial Guinea would be the last-minute alternate hosts for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Tournament.

This happened after Morocco insisted that CAF must postpone the event due to concerns related to the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.