The sports activities actions fraternity converged on the tenth model of the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) this week with a unified message: the 2027 model of the Africa Cup of Nations shall be method over a soccer match. It’s being seen as a once-in-a-generation different to showcase Uganda and the broader East African space to the world.
The 2027 match will mark the first-ever AFCON to be co-hosted by three East African nations (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) in what’s predicted to be a historic milestone for every African soccer and regional tourism. The last word itemizing of the 24 licensed teams is predicted to be confirmed in September 2026.
Speaking at POATE, Hassan El Kamah highlighted the dimensions of the prospect awaiting the host nations.
“Take into consideration three billion television viewers world extensive seeing your mannequin all through AFCON matches,” El Kamah said. “That’s the capacity of AFCON, an unbelievable platform for funding and tourism growth in Uganda.”
Hassan El Kamah, the Enterprise Director of Confederation of African Soccer
El Kamah well-known that AFCON has developed into one in every of Africa’s biggest monetary and industrial platforms, with the 2027 model projected to generate better than USD 2 billion in blended monetary affect all through the three host worldwide areas.
He pointed to the success of the 2025 match in Morocco, the place the final word at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium attracted 66,526 spectators whereas beIN Sports activities actions recorded over 97 million cumulative viewers all through the opponents.
“Our President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, on a regular basis says will in all probability be the most effective AFCON in historic previous,” El Kamah added. “Web internet hosting three gorgeous worldwide areas like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania is one factor specific.”
He moreover challenged Uganda’s private sector, along with airways, inns, tour operators and leisure suppliers, to start out preparations immediately with a view to completely capitalize on the match.
“The window to assemble one factor worth visiting is precise,” he said. “However it obtained’t hold open with out finish.”
With qualification bulletins anticipated in September 2026, stakeholders in hospitality, transport, leisure and infrastructure have been urged to fast-track visitor-ready experiences ahead of the anticipated influx of followers and media consideration.
Dr. Taibu Azar captured the nationwide mood whereas addressing delegates on the expo.
“Soccer has on a regular basis been Uganda’s heartbeat,” she said. “AFCON 2027 gives us the very best stage now we’ve got ever wanted to current the world who we’re, not solely as a soccer nation, nevertheless as a trip spot.”
“When these followers arrive, they’re going to uncover a nation that’s warmth, gorgeous and in distinction to anyplace else on the continent. We’re ready, and we’re excited,” she added.
Dr. Azar extra revealed that preparations are already underway between the Federation of Uganda Soccer Associations and the Uganda Tourism Board to diversify Uganda’s tourism product previous wildlife.
“Now we’ve got been working with Uganda Tourism Board since remaining 12 months to find out strategies we are going to diversify our product previous wildlife and use this match to drive visibility and entice investments into music, hospitality, custom and loads of others,” she outlined.
Juliana Kagwa described AFCON 2027 as “Uganda’s single biggest tourism promoting different in a period.”
In line with Kagwa, the method is to ensure visiting followers experience better than soccer by connecting them to sights just like gorilla trekking, the Provide of the Nile, cultural experiences in Kampala and Uganda’s broader journey tourism selections.
“They arrive for the game, they hold for the Pearl of Africa,” Kagwa said, summarizing the board’s imaginative and prescient of fixing soccer supporters into long-stay vacationers.
The Uganda Tourism Board moreover confirmed plans to protected trip spot affiliate promoting rights linked to AFCON 2027 in a bid to put Trip spot Uganda prominently on the worldwide stage.
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