Tanzania's $112 million “jewel” takes shape » The new stadium will host Africa Cup of Nations matches

The stadium will have a capacity of 30,000 and is located in Arusha and is expected to be completed by July 2026 ahead of next year's tournament, which Tanzania will co-host with Kenya and Uganda. The cost of the stadium is estimated at 112 million dollars.

PHOTO. Samia Suluhu Stadium, the “Jewel” of Tanzania

The latest footage from the Samia Suluhu Stadium shows that the roof of the facility is now being fitted, with work continuing on the stands while the pitch is being leveled in the playing area. The focus is mainly on the indoor section of the stadium, which the government wants to complete before focusing on the exterior, according to Pulse Sports.

The Football Association of Tanzania says the stadium is 74 percent complete, and Tanzanian government spokesman and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Gerson Msigwa, denies reports that the state does not have the funds to complete the project.

“We are not stuck for lack of funds”Msigwa said, according to Tanzania's Daily News, insisting that the contractor had been paid on time and most of the materials had arrived on site.

The inspiration behind the design

Located in the Olomoti area of ​​Arusha, the Samia Suluhu Stadium, whose construction began in April 2024, is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose facility with a capacity of 30,000 that will host football, athletics and cultural events. The stadium's iconic design is inspired by the Tanzanite gemstones and Mount Kilimanjaro, two of the country's most cherished symbols, integrated into the architecture, creating a distinctive and modern venue that embodies the nation's identity and pride.

Named after the country's current president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, the cost of the stadium is reported to be $112 million.

The Samia Suluhu Stadium, along with the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, will be the arenas used for Tanzania's AFCON 2027 matches, while neighboring Kenya is also building a 60,000-seater ultra-modern Talanta Stadium and Uganda has already completed the Hoima City Stadium.

Talanta Stadium, Kenya

• It will be Kenya's main arena for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations matches, with the state-of-the-art 60,000-seater facility set to be 85% complete by the end of January 2026. Opened in March 2024, the stadium is projected to be ready by April 2026, with the exterior almost complete, with interior work continuing, including the inner canopy, which is almost of completion. The stadium will also have two adjacent training pitches, while there will be a shopping center and a four-star hotel.

Hoima City Stadium, Uganda

• Located in the town of Hoima in the Bunyoro sub-region, the Hoima Stadium will be Uganda's second arena for the 2027 AFC Cup matches, after the Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) located in the capital Kampala. The stadium, whose construction began in September 2024, was commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni in December 2025 after being completed in a record 12 months at a cost of $129 million.