The Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Hon. Paul Christian Makonda, has met with the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe, in Rabat, Morocco, where he officially delivered a letter from the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Hon. Makonda was accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and the Government Chief Spokesperson, Mr. Gerson Msigwa. During the meeting, he reaffirmed President Samia’s strong commitment to working closely with CAF in the implementation of key football development initiatives, including continental and international competitions.
The Minister highlighted Tanzania’s significant progress in preparations to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 alongside Kenya and Uganda, noting the country’s determination to set a new standard and deliver a tournament that surpasses previous editions.
He further urged CAF to consider Tanzania strategically, emphasizing that close collaboration would enhance the successful implementation of the Government’s football development agenda.
In response, Dr. Motsepe expressed his sincere appreciation to President Samia for her letter and conveyed gratitude for her message of goodwill and partnership toward CAF. He reaffirmed CAF’s readiness to work hand in hand with Tanzania in advancing football development across the continent.
Dr. Motsepe also commended the strong leadership and efforts of President Samia and her Government, citing major investments in sports infrastructure, the successful hosting of CHAN 2024, and the ongoing solid preparations for AFCON 2027.
He announced that CAF will deploy a team of experts to Tanzania to collaborate with the Government and key stakeholders in finalizing preparations for AFCON 2027, which is expected to feature 28 participating nations instead of the traditional 24.
Dr. Motsepe concluded by confirming plans to visit Tanzania in the near future to personally assess the preparations and engage in high-level discussions with national leaders.
