CAF President Patrice Motsepe is expected in Tanzania on Thursday, September 17, 2026, as preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) enter another important phase.
Motsepe’s visit will focus on Tanzania’s readiness to host matches at next year’s continental championship, with the CAF president expected to inspect the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The visit comes shortly after a CAF technical delegation completed an eight-day inspection of facilities across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The inspection covered stadiums, training grounds, hotels, airports and other infrastructure connected to the tournament. Benjamin Mkapa Stadium was among the facilities assessed in Tanzania.
Motsepe to Meet Tanzania Football and Government Officials
According to information from Tanzania’s football authorities, Motsepe will be received by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President Wallace Karia upon his arrival.
The CAF president is also expected to meet Tanzania’s Prime Minister, Mwigulu Nchemba, to discuss the country’s preparations and exchange views on the organisation of AFCON 2027.
The high-level engagement is expected to focus on infrastructure development, stadium readiness and the broader operational requirements for staging Africa’s biggest national-team football tournament.
Nchemba has already been closely involved in the preparations. In August, the Prime Minister directed that work on AFCON training grounds in Tanzania be accelerated so they can be completed on schedule and meet CAF requirements.
Benjamin Mkapa Stadium Inspection
A major part of Motsepe’s visit will be the inspection of the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, one of the venues earmarked for the tournament in Tanzania.
The stadium has undergone preparation work ahead of AFCON 2027, with previous CAF inspections focusing on areas including the playing surface, hospitality facilities and media infrastructure.
Tanzania’s preparations also include the development and upgrading of facilities in Arusha and Zanzibar. The Tanzania government identifies Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Fumba Stadium in Zanzibar and the Arusha venue as the country’s proposed competition centres for AFCON 2027.
The latest CAF inspection earlier this month also covered Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the Arusha stadium, Fumba Stadium, training grounds, Julius Nyerere International Airport, hotels, hospitals and road infrastructure around the venues.
CAF Delegation to Accompany Motsepe
Motsepe will reportedly be accompanied by several senior football officials, including CAF Second Vice President Kurt Okraku, CAF Fifth Vice President Feizal Sidat, CECAFA President Paulos Weldehaimanot and CAF Acting Secretary General Samson Adamu.
Their presence underlines the importance of the visit as CAF continues to monitor preparations in the three host countries.
Earlier in May, CAF and officials from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda established the PAMOJA Oversight Committee to provide strategic direction and coordinate preparations for the tournament. Key areas identified included stadium and infrastructure development, transport, security, medical preparedness and tournament operations.
Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda to Host AFCON 2027
AFCON 2027 will be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, marking the first time the Africa Cup of Nations will be staged across three countries.
The tournament is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The three East African nations have been working with CAF to ensure that stadiums, training facilities, accommodation, transportation, security and other tournament infrastructure meet the required standards.
CAF has previously stated that the inspections are designed to maintain consistent standards across the three host countries and support the successful delivery of the tournament.
With another high-level inspection now scheduled in Tanzania, Motsepe’s visit is expected to provide further assessment of the country’s progress as the countdown to AFCON 2027 continues.
