A team of experts from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is in the country inspecting various sporting infrastructures.
It is part and parcel of preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals whereby Tanzania teamed up with Kenya and Uganda to offer a joint bid of hosting the contest.
In her opening remarks of the meeting with CAF officials in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, the Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports Pindi Chana insists that government is ready to host the AFCON finals in collaboration with Kenya and Uganda.
“I personally presented this agenda during a high level meeting that was chaired by President Samia Suluhu Hassan which was also attended by Vice President and Prime Minister who in one voice agreed that we should continue pushing for a chance to host the finals,” she said.
On his part, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Arts and Sports Saidi Yakubu said that government has already signed a contract with the Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) for the sake of face-lifting Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
He said the renovation works will consume 31bn/- in order to make the venue suitable for hosting the AFCON finals.
According to him, some of the areas to be upgraded include dressing rooms, media center, VVIP section, transforming all fans seats at the stadium, score board, improving technology system, transforming the pitch and two sets of goals.