By Odindo Ayieko
WITH the first-ever Africa Cup of Nations, the 2027 Pamoja AFCON, coming to East Africa and set to be hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the spillover effects are expected to be felt for years after the tournament.
From Nairobi, where the Kenyan government has built the ultra-modern Talanta City Stadium (to be renamed Raila Odinga International Stadium), to Uganda where the Mandela National Stadium has been refurbished to international standards and the Hoima Stadium has been constructed, the tournament is set to give a major infrastructural boost to sports in the two nations.
However, it is Tanzania where the government has gone the extra mile, building a tourism complex that is expected to be a game changer in Zanzibar, a tourist destination on the shores of the Indian Ocean.
Tanzania appears to be the financial pillar of the Pamoja project. For the 2025–2026 fiscal year, nearly $195 million has been mobilised for sports infrastructure development, including approximately $67 million specifically dedicated to stadium construction and renovation.
The new state-of-the-art sports and tourism complex, known as Afcon City in Fumba, Unguja Island, has cost a $150 million investment ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This project is specifically designed to transform the island into a premier sports tourism hub, providing world-class infrastructure intended to boost the economy and attract visitors long after the 2027 tournament concludes.
The hub will feature modern training pitches, a 5,000-seat multi-purpose indoor arena, a 150-room four-star hotel, a 100-bed specialised sports hospital and a small passenger port to facilitate transport for fans and tourists.
According to Riziki Pembe Juma, Zanzibar’s Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, visiting teams scheduled to play in Zanzibar will have access to top-tier training facilities at the New Amaan Complex and the Suluhu Academy.
The government has emphasised that Afcon City’s purpose extends beyond sports. It is envisioned as a major tourist attraction that will solidify Zanzibar’s reputation as a leading international destination.
Minister Juma noted that residents and entrepreneurs should prepare for the business opportunities the project will generate, adding that the development is expected to stimulate economic growth, create employment, and attract further investment, promising a lasting legacy for Zanzibar’s economy long after the tournament concludes.
While in other countries in Africa and beyond, heavily invested sporting infrastructure often goes to waste after major events due to lack of usage, the same will not apply to the Zanzibar hub, which is part of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050.
Unlike “white elephant” projects, Afcon City is designed for year-round use to host concerts, conferences, and various sporting events.
Vision 2050 is a 25-year national strategic roadmap aimed at transforming the country into a $1 trillion economy with upper-middle-income status by 2050. Launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, it focuses on industrialisation, the digital economy, high-quality livelihoods, and climate resilience, with implementation set to begin on July 1, 2026.
Legacy beyond 2027
The project aims to stimulate long-term economic growth by creating jobs, attracting foreign investment, and expanding Zanzibar’s tourism sector beyond beach holidays into sports tourism.
The heightened spotlight on East and Central Africa can also promote regional tourism by attracting international visitors travelling across borders. For instance, while Zambia is not a host for 2027, the legacy of this event is expected to benefit the wider CECAFA region, including infrastructure, tourism, and football development.
Afcon City has strong sports tourism potential for Zambian and Malawian fans who will easily travel to Tanzania, boosting tourism income for the host region.
Beyond the competition, AFCON 2027 represents an opportunity for socio-economic transformation for East Africa.
Infrastructure projects will mobilise thousands of direct and indirect jobs, boost the hotel, transport and services sectors, and enhance the attractiveness of cities like Arusha, Hoima, and Kampala.
Supported by international partnerships and continental media exposure, the region hopes to secure a strong place on the African football calendar. Following the Moroccan example in 2025, the Kenya-Tanzania-Uganda trio is now expected to deliver on a critical promise: transforming budgetary commitments into a credible, seamless, and sustainable tournament in 2027.
Odindo Ayieko is a sports journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya, with over 20 years of experience covering sports in Africa, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, as well as the 2001 and 2015 All-Africa Games in Abuja and Brazzaville respectively, among other regional and continental sporting events.
Kalemba April 10, 2026
