The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) recent decision to relocate the CAF Confederation Cup final second leg between Simba SC and Morocco’s RS Berkane from Dar es Salaam to the New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar must serve as a sobering moment for Tanzania.
This is not merely about where a football match will be played. It is about national preparedness, integrity in infrastructure management and the credibility of our institutions in the eyes of the continent.
CAF’s move followed the embarrassing scenes witnessed during the quarter-final tie between Simba and Egypt’s Al Masry at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium — our national pride and largest sporting venue.
That day, torrential rains turned the pitch into a paddling pool. Despite frantic efforts by staff to sweep water off the playing area with brooms, the damage was done. The pitch was unplayable in parts, the ball repeatedly stalled and the spectacle that was meant to celebrate top-tier African football was instead reduced to farce.
This, from a stadium that was supposedly ready for international duty.
Government officials, including the Chief Government Spokesperson, were quick to express indignation at CAF’s initial suspension of the stadium. They argued that significant upgrades had already been completed. Yet, the evidence of the Simba–Al Masry match painted a very different picture.
It is easy to be defensive in the face of external criticism, especially when national honour is on the line. But patriotism must never blind us to the truth. If we are to defend our infrastructure and public investments, we must first be sure of their quality and readiness. Pretending all is well when it clearly is not only invites further embarrassment.
The Prime Minister’s subsequent inspection of the stadium and assurance that it was fit for use was commendable. But let us be frank: if that statement is later proven wrong, it would be a serious failure — not only of technical oversight but of accountability to the highest office in government.
The Benjamin Mkapa Stadium is no minor facility. It was built for Sh56 billion and underwent extensive renovations reportedly costing another Sh31 billion. It is meant to be a regional benchmark — a venue capable of hosting continental tournaments such as the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in August and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027, which Tanzania will co-host with Kenya and Uganda. If it cannot endure a single downpour, then something is fundamentally flawed.
Let us also not lose sight of the broader implications. There have been unsubstantiated claims that CAF informed RS Berkane of the venue change before communicating with Tanzania. Others allege that this was a deliberate move to unsettle Simba SC. There are even reports of the club requesting to play the return leg in Algeria — a diplomatically sensitive choice, given the ongoing tensions between Algeria and Morocco.
Yet these claims collapse under scrutiny. Both teams received CAF’s communication on the same day. The hard truth is simpler: the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium failed the test when it mattered most. No conspiracy, just consequences.
As we prepare to host CHAN in just two months, we must take this experience seriously. Stadium inspections must be regular and rigorous. Drainage infrastructure must be evaluated under real weather conditions — not dry-day photo ops. A stadium should not be declared ready merely because it looks pristine when the sun is shining.
Public assets like the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium must be treated as national treasures. They symbolise more than just brick and mortar — they are investments made with taxpayers’ money, meant to lift our country’s profile and economic potential through sport.
With the government constructing another major stadium in Arusha and planning a state-of-the-art facility in Dodoma, this is a crucial moment of reckoning. Our ability to maintain and professionally manage sporting infrastructure must match our ambition to host the continent’s biggest events.
Let the Amaan decision be more than a one-off inconvenience. Let it be the wake-up call we need to finally treat our sporting infrastructure with the seriousness it demands.
