The Tanzanian government has affirmed that the Arusha Stadium will be completed in time for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football games, which will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
This was revealed recently by the Tanzania Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports, Damas Ndumbaro, in an interview with The Citizen.
Ndumbaro stated that the initial phase of the stadium’s construction has reached five percent, which includes site preparation, procurement, and the construction of contractor offices.
He expressed satisfaction with the speed and capability of the contractor carrying out the work and believes they will meet the target.
“The pace of progress is impressive, and we are confident that the contractor will meet the deadline, allowing Tanzania to make history with this achievement,” stated Ndumbaro.
The stadium is being built in the Olomoti area, and the government will spend not less than Tsh286 billion (Sh13.5bn).
The stadium, which will be named after President Samia Suluhu Hassan, will also include accommodation facilities.
Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda will jointly host the 36th edition of the biennial African football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in June and July 2027, while Morocco will host the 2025 edition.
“We believe the contractor, who was selected after a rigorous process, will meet our expectations,” he added, noting that the stadium is expected to be completed in 22 months.
“We need a quality stadium that will be built on time and meet the expectations of Tanzanians. We want a modern stadium,” Ndumbaro emphasized.
Tanzania plans to host AFCON matches at the Benjamin William Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the Amaan Complex in Zanzibar, and the planned Arusha Stadium.
The new Arusha-based stadium will have a capacity of 30,000 seats and will be the most modern in East Africa.
In addition to domestic and international matches, the stadium will also host various activities, such as athletics and trade events, and will significantly boost tourism in the country.
The stadium will be built by the China Railway Construction Engineering Group Limited (CRCEG), whose officials have promised to build a modern facility.
The Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania bid received the nod from the CAF executive committee last year, bringing the biennial tournament back to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted the 1976 finals
- The Citizen
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