East African states challenged on funds to host Afcon 2027

Arusha. Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya have been challenged to look for reliable sources of funds needed to host Afcon 2027.

The three countries must also identify the needed human resources to organize the high profile tournament, held biennially.

Governments of the three states should ensure that they host "a- one-of- a- kind Afcon tournament in 2027", insisted the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala).

In a motion moved by its two lawmakers, the regional Assembly said the tournament will showcase the region's natural beauty.

Tourism and other hospitality segments are set to benefit while the investment potential for the region will be exposed.

Also read: Hosting Afcon finals 2027 will boost tourism, say Eala MPs

The 2027 tournament will be the first time for Afcon to be hosted by any East African Community (EAC) partner state.

Representatives from the football federations of the three 2027 Nations Cup host countries met in Kenya recently to discuss the financial implications.

It emerged during the talks that the 'Pamoja' hosts have not had to wait too long as time is running out to raise the needed funds.

The 2027 hosts are expected to make a cash deposit of $90million to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) - translating to $30 million per country – by January 15th, 2025.

The motion on Afcon 2027 was moved by Eala members, Gerald Blacks Siranda (from Uganda) and Maina Mwangi (Kenya) during the just ended House sitting.

They said they were convinced the first ever continental soccer bonanza to be held in the EAC will have enormous benefits to the region.

"It will provide the three partner states with a platform to showcase the natural resources and tourism and investment potentials," they said.

The three countries were also urged to facilitate the construction and upgrading of the required facilities, notably the stadiums and training grounds.

The Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam is the only CAF-certified stadium in existence among the three countries.

In Tanzania the Afcon matches will be played at Benjamin Mkapa stadium as well as at two new stadiums to be constructed in Arusha and Dodoma.

In Arusha, the stadium will be constructed at Mateves area on the south western suburbs of the city near the airport.

The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato) says the tournament will add to tourism marketing efforts in the northern circuit.

Tato chairman Willbard Chamburo, in a recent interview with The Citizen, cautioned that four years to 2027 should not be seen as long enough for the preparations.

Charles Kadonya, a Tanzanian national working for the EAC said the tournament will have a spillover effect to the economy.

"The region will be beamed all over the world through television. Here again there will be a spill over effect of monies from abroad to the region," he pointed out.

Walter Maeda, the chairperson of the Arusha regional business chamber said they will work out on modalities that will enable the city to benefit from influx of people during the AFCON matches.