DODOMA – President Samia Suluhu Hassan has officially invited Ivorian football legend Didier Drogba to serve as an ambassador for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The appointment, confirmed following a meeting in Dar es Salaam, is a cornerstone of Tanzania’s “Pamoja” bid strategy alongside Kenya and Uganda.
Drogba’s role will be to leverage his global brand to market Tanzania as a premier destination for sports tourism and international investment.
The Tanzanian Ministry of Sports stated that the partnership is not merely symbolic but aimed at “enhancing the visibility” of the region’s infrastructure readiness.
The government has allocated substantial funding for the renovation of the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and the construction of new facilities in Arusha. By bringing in a figure of Drogba’s stature, the Suluhu administration aims to signal to the world that East Africa is ready to host world-class events, potentially boosting the tourism sector by double digits in the lead-up to the tournament.
