Govt unveils AFCON strategies
DODOMA: GOVERNMENT has said it is implementing robust short, medium and longterm strategies to prepare the national football team for upcoming international competitions, with particular focus on a targeted scouting programme to identify talented players from the Tanzanian diaspora across the globe.
The Deputy Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma, revealed that the strategies—especially the diaspora scouting initiative—have already begun to produce promising results and are expected to strengthen the national squad significantly. Mwinjuma made the remarks yesterday while responding to a question from the Member of Parliament for North Tunduru North, Hassan Kungu.
The MP had sought clarification on the government’s preparations for assembling a strong national team to represent the country in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where Tanzania will participate as a host nation. Responding , Mwinjuma explained that the government, medium-term and longterm strategies for the preparation of the national team,” Mwinjuma stated.
“These strategies include, firstly, strengthening the domestic league by ensuring competitiveness and discipline within the sport, to nurture top talent from within the country.
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“Secondly, the government, in collaboration with TFF, has established development programmes for youth national teams, focusing on players in the U-15, U-17 and U-23 categories, with the aim of building a strong and competitive senior national team that can perform exceptionally in the AFCON 2027 tournament.” He continued:
“Thirdly, the government, together with TFF, is actively pursuing a scouting programme to identify diaspora players in various countries worldwide. This initiative has already yielded positive results, with several of these players having been integrated into the national team during recent fixtures where Tanzania performed well and successfully qualified for AFCON.”
Mwinjuma also highlighted a fourth pillar of the strategy, which involves improving the general welfare and services provided to the national teams. This includes enhancing the technical staff, improving nutrition programmes, supplying essential training and match equipment and offering increased motivation and incentives to national team players.
The deputy minister stressed that the government is fully committed to ensuring that Tanzania makes the most of this historic opportunity as AFCON 2027 hosts— not simply to participate, but to compete at the highest level. “The government recognises that hosting AFCON is a major event and a historic opportunity.
Therefore, we have made thorough preparations to ensure that our team does not merely participate but competes at the highest level,” Mwinjuma stated. In addition to squad development, the government’s broader efforts to enhance football infrastructure have also been accelerated under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The sixth-phase government has overseen the construction of new stadiums in Arusha and Dodoma, as well as major renovations of the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam and the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.
The construction and improvement of these football facilities form part of a wider government initiative aimed at ensuring Tanzania is fully prepared to host not only AFCON but also other major tournaments such as the African Nations Championship (CHAN). The government has emphasised that modern infrastructure is essential for the country’s growing ambitions in international football.
