The real test is to support local football

DAR ES SALAAM: FOR Tanzania, perhaps, the most important measure of AFCON 2027’s success will be its impact on domestic football. Many countries have successfully hosted major sporting events, only to watch public enthusiasm fade once the tournament ended. Packed stadiums became half-empty again, commercial interest declined and infrastructure remained underutilised.

Tanzania cannot afford that outcome. The excitement surrounding AFCON should translate into consistently higher attendance at Mainland Premier League matches, increased membership of supporters’ clubs, stronger commercial investment and greater interest in women’s football and youth competitions.

Football should become a regular weekend activity for families rather than an occasional event reserved for major international tournaments. The tournament also provides a unique opportunity to strengthen support for the national team.

A successful AFCON should leave Tanzanians feeling a stronger emotional connection to Taifa Stars. That connection must be nurtured through regular engagement with supporters, improved communication from football authorities and a clear long-term vision for national team development.

Fans who proudly support Taifa Stars during AFCON 2027 should remain equally committed during FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and friendly matches. Building lasting loyalty requires consistent communication and meaningful interaction, not only victories on the pitch.

The legacy of AFCON cannot stop at elite football. The tournament should inspire greater investment in school competitions, community football, youth academies and coaching development. Children who watch Africa’s best players perform should have opportunities to play the game themselves.

Communities need accessible pitches, qualified coaches and organised competitions that nurture future talent. Without a strong grassroots foundation, the excitement generated by AFCON risks becoming temporary. With sustained investment, however, today’s spectators could become tomorrow’s national team players.

Football possesses a unique ability to unite people across regions, generations and social backgrounds. AFCON 2027 offers Tanzania an opportunity to strengthen that shared identity.

The tournament will surely encourage families to attend matches together, businesses to invest in local clubs, schools to expand sports programmes and communities to celebrate football as part of everyday life. It will also strengthen tourism, promote local culture and showcase Tanzania’s hospitality to millions of viewers across Africa and beyond. If managed effectively, football becomes more than entertainment. It becomes an engine for social cohesion, economic activity and national pride.

Tanzanian football has made significant progress in recent years. Investment in sports infrastructure has increased, corporate sponsorship has expanded and local clubs continue to perform more competitively in continental competitions. Yet, a gap remains between football’s immense popularity and its broader cultural and economic potential. AFCON 2027 provides a rare opportunity to bridge that gap.

ALSO READ: AFCON 2027 offers Tanzania chance to shine beyond the pitch

Its legacy will not be measured solely by the quality of the stadiums or the success of the tournament’s organisation. It will be measured by whether more children choose to play football, whether more families regularly attend domestic league matches, whether more businesses invest in clubs and whether supporters remain actively engaged long after the final whistle has blown.

The tournament must ignite a new football culture in Tanzania. Realising that vision, however, will require a collective effort from government, the Tanzania Football Federation, clubs, sponsors, broadcasters, schools, the media and, above all, the supporters themselves.

AFCON 2027 is an opportunity to redefine Tanzania’s relationship with football for generations to come. Whether that opportunity becomes a lasting legacy will depend on the decisions made long before the opening match and long after the champions are crowned.