The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports, Gerson Msigwa, has expressed confidence in the ongoing construction of the Arusha Sports Stadium, a key venue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
The project has made significant strides, reaching over 11 per cent completion, up from the initial five per cent. This includes site preparation, procurement and the construction of contractor offices.
Msigwa commended the steady progress, despite the ambitious timeline set for the project. Msigwa made the remarks during an on-site inspection of the construction site, located in the Olmoti area of Arusha City. His visit took place both during the day and into the night, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the work.
Speaking to reporters, Msigwa praised the contractors’ efforts but issued a stern warning about the project’s timeline.
“While I am pleased with the progress so far, any delays in the construction timeline will be unacceptable. If the contractor fails to meet the deadlines, that will become a point of contention, even before our Minister, Damas Ndumbaro, becomes involved,” Msigwa emphasised, stressing the importance of completing the stadium in time for the prestigious continental tournament.
Msigwa also took the opportunity to thank President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her continued support, particularly in securing the necessary funding for the project. “The funds, which are being disbursed on time by the Ministry of Finance, are crucial to keeping the project on track,” he added.
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The Arusha Sports Stadium dubbed Samia Stadium, once completed, is expected to be a stateof-the-art facility capable of hosting major international sporting events, including the highly anticipated AFCON 2027.
The stadium, which is estimated to cost 286 billion Tanzanian shillings, is slated for completion within 22 months.
It will serve as one of the key venues for the tournament, where Tanzania will join Kenya and Uganda in hosting the 36th edition of Africa’s premier football competition, scheduled for June and July 2027.
The stadium is being constructed by the China Railway Construction Engineering Group Limited (CRCEG), whose officials have assured the Tanzanian government of delivering a modern facility.
With only a few years until the tournament, all eyes are on the construction team’s ability to meet their ambitious target and deliver a stadium that will live up to the expectations of AFCON 2027.
