Tanzanians have been urged to position themselves early to benefit from the economic and business opportunities expected to accompany the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the National Sports Council (NSC) identifying 12 key sectors likely to gain from the tournament.
The championship, which Tanzania will co-host with Kenya and Uganda, will be the first AFCON edition to be staged in East Africa, a milestone that sports officials believe could unlock significant gains in tourism, investment, employment and infrastructure development.
NSC Head of Communications and Public Relations Aminiel Aligaesha said the tournament would create opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs and job seekers across multiple sectors, while accelerating the growth of the country's sports economy.
“AFCON 2027 is more than a football tournament. It is an economic opportunity that can stimulate business growth, create jobs, attract investment and showcase Tanzania to the world,” he said.
According to the council, the hospitality industry is expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries as hotels, guest houses, restaurants and entertainment facilities prepare to accommodate thousands of visitors, football fans, officials and media personnel.
Retail businesses, banks and financial institutions are also likely to experience increased activity as spending and financial transactions rise during the tournament period.
Aligaesha noted that the event would generate employment opportunities, particularly for young people, in sectors such as hospitality, transport, tourism, information technology, journalism, event management and digital content production.
The transport industry is expected to benefit from higher demand for air, road and marine travel services as teams, supporters and tourists move between host cities and across the region.
Beyond the immediate economic gains, AFCON 2027 is expected to contribute to the long-term development of football in Tanzania through increased investment in youth academies, coaching programmes, refereeing standards and talent development initiatives.
The health sector could also benefit through the provision of medical services to visitors and the promotion of Tanzania as a destination for medical tourism, he added.
Aligaesha said the tournament would provide a unique platform to market Tanzania’s cultural heritage and tourism attractions to a global audience, highlighting Kiswahili, local cuisine, music and traditional arts alongside renowned destinations such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Mount Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.
Preparations for the tournament have already triggered substantial infrastructure improvements, including the renovation of Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, construction of new stadiums in Arusha and Zanzibar, and upgrades to roads, training facilities and digital service systems.
He said the successful hosting of AFCON 2027 would strengthen Tanzania’s reputation as a sports destination, improve its prospects of attracting future international events and enhance regional cooperation through sports diplomacy.
Aligaesha called on citizens, investors and businesses to begin planning now so they can take advantage of the opportunities expected to emerge before, during and after the tournament.
He added that the NSC will later this year unveil a formal framework outlining how individuals, businesses and other stakeholders can participate in and benefit from the opportunities associated with AFCON 2027.
The 12 key opportunities identified by the council include tourism, hospitality, transport, retail trade, financial services, employment creation, sports development, healthcare services, digital innovation, infrastructure development, investment promotion and cultural branding.
