A new 36,500-capacity stadium is rising in Zanzibar as East Africa prepares to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The Fumba project is part of Tanzania’s preparations for the historic three-country tournament, with hopes that it will boost football, tourism and business while leaving a lasting legacy beyond AFCON.
A new 36,500-capacity stadium rising in Fumba is emerging as a centrepiece of Zanzibar’s preparations for AFCON 2027, as East Africa gets ready to host the continent’s biggest football tournament for the first time in 51 years.
Construction of the stadium is about 80% complete and is expected to be finished by the end of December, according to Zanzibar authorities.
The complex will also feature two outdoor pitches, each with capacity for 5,000 spectators, along with supporting infrastructure, including a new access road.
The development forms part of Tanzania’s wider preparations for AFCON PAMOJA 2027, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Turkish firm Orkun Grup, which built and manages Zanzibar’s Amaan Sports Complex and has worked on other CAF/FIFA-approved stadium and sports projects across Africa, is involved in the Fumba stadium project.
It was designed by AFL Architects of Manchester, UK, and developed by Globespan Infrastructure.
More than football
In a region where football is woven into everyday life, the tournament represents more than a sporting event. It is an opportunity to showcase East Africa’s football culture, growing infrastructure and tourism potential to a global audience.
Tanzania brings its own formidable football culture to the tournament.
The country is home to two of East Africa’s biggest clubs, Simba SC and Young Africans, whose fierce rivalry regularly dominates the sporting conversation.
That passion is expected to spill over when Africa’s top national teams arrive for AFCON.
But hosting a tournament of this scale will be a major step up from the recent African Nations Championship, or CHAN, which Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-hosted.
CHAN provided an important test of the region’s ability to stage a major international football tournament, while also highlighting areas—from stadium security and ticketing to crowd management—that organisers will need to strengthen ahead of AFCON.
For Zanzibar, the Fumba stadium is designed to have a life beyond the tournament.
The complex is expected to host football and other sporting events, while the government says investment in sports infrastructure will create more opportunities for young athletes to train, compete and develop their careers.
Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi inspected the stadium and nearby Fumba Port on Tuesday.
He said surrounding infrastructure would be developed to international standards, adding that the completed projects could create opportunities for businesses and service providers as visitor numbers rise during AFCON.
The bigger question is what remains after the final whistle.
Improved sports facilities, better transport links and increased tourism could give Fumba and Zanzibar a lasting economic and sporting legacy—if the infrastructure continues to be used long after AFCON 2027 ends.
And that may be the ultimate test of PAMOJA.
The tournament’s Swahili name means “together”—a reflection of CAF’s vision for three neighbouring countries to unite around their shared culture, history and passion for football.
In 2027, East Africa will have the chance to turn that idea into a tournament watched across the continent and beyond.
