CAF don announce the official date for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027, wey Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda go co-host. The opening match go hold on Saturday, 19 June 2027, and the final go be on Saturday, 17 July 2027. The dates don get approval from FIFA Council wey meet for Vancouver, Canada.
CAF go announce later which country go host the opening match and which one go host the final. This AFCON na the first one wey three countries go host together, and e go reach over 400 million people for East Africa region. The competition go return to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia host am for 1976.
For the qualifiers, the draw go take place on 19 May 2026. 48 teams, including the three co-hosts, go participate. Dem go divide the teams into 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group go qualify for the final tournament. The qualifiers go happen during three FIFA International Windows.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Mkapa Stadium for Dar es Salaam dey undergo multi-million-dollar renovation to meet international standards. The 60,000-seat arena, wey originally rename for 2020 to honor former President Benjamin Mkapa, dey get modern VIP suites, advanced media broadcast centers, and overhauled security infrastructure. The Tanzanian government don set deadline of April 2026 to finish all critical upgrades.
Additionally, Tanzania dey build new stadiums for Arusha and Dodoma. The Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium for Arusha go cost $112 million and hold 30,000 spectators. For Dodoma, dem dey plan a $135 million, 32,000-seat arena constructed by Italian firm SPAR. Afcon City for Fumba go provide world-class training and accommodation facilities.
Economists say the infrastructural investment go create thousands of jobs and boost sports tourism. The hospitality, transport, and retail sectors dey prepare for the influx of fans. The successful East Africa Pamoja bid na watershed moment for the region, and if the timelines hold, the upgraded arenas go secure East Africa’s position as a premier destination for global sporting events.
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