Attending AFCON 2027 in Tanzania, Kenya or Uganda is a once-in-a-generation experience — East Africa’s first tournament in 51 years, seven stadiums, three countries, 24 nations. But getting the most out of it requires preparation that goes beyond buying a ticket. These are the 15 things every fan needs to know before match day.
1. Register Your CAF Fan ID Before Anything Else
Your match ticket is linked to your Fan ID — the CAF registration system that verifies your identity at the gate. Without a registered Fan ID you cannot complete a ticket purchase, and without your Fan ID active on match day you cannot enter the stadium. This is not optional and it is not quick to fix at the last minute.
Register now at tickets.cafonline.com — even if official ticket sales have not opened yet. Registration is free and takes 10 minutes. The name on your Fan ID must match your passport or national ID exactly. Do this before you do anything else.
2. Get a Visa Card — It Gets You Tickets 48 Hours Early
CAF partners with Visa for exclusive presale access. Visa cardholders get 48 hours to buy tickets before the general public. At AFCON 2025 in Morocco the most popular matches sold out during the Visa presale window before general sales even opened. If you do not have a Visa card and you want tickets to a semi-final or a Nigeria, Morocco or Egypt match — get one before official sales open. Mastercard and other cards do not qualify for the presale.
3. Screenshot Your Ticket Before Leaving Your Hotel
Mobile signal near a 60,000-capacity stadium on match day is unreliable. Data networks get overwhelmed. The CAF ticketing app may load slowly or not at all when you need it most. Screenshot your ticket and your Fan ID confirmation before you leave your hotel. Have them in your camera roll — no internet required. Email them to yourself as a backup.
4. Download Bolt Before You Land
Bolt is the primary ride-hailing app across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Use it for every journey to and from the stadium — do not use unlicensed taxis, do not walk near stadiums at night, do not flag down vehicles on the street. Download Bolt before you board your flight to Tanzania. Set up your account and add your payment method in advance. On match day the app will be busy — having a pre-existing account means faster booking.
5. Book Your Return Bolt Before Kick-Off — Not After
This is the single most important practical tip in this entire guide. When 60,000 fans simultaneously try to book a Bolt after the final whistle, wait times spike and prices surge. Book your return journey before kick-off — either schedule a pickup for approximately 20 minutes after the expected full-time, or have the app open and ready to book the instant the final whistle goes. Fans who do not do this wait 45 to 90 minutes for a car. Fans who do this are back at their hotel before the post-match rush begins.
6. Leave Your Hotel Earlier Than You Think You Need To
Dar es Salaam traffic is unpredictable. On AFCON 2027 match days it will be worse than anything the city has seen. The rule is simple: whatever time you think you need to leave, subtract 45 minutes. If you think you need to leave at 17:00 for a 20:00 kick-off, leave at 16:15. Gates open 2 hours before kick-off. Arriving 90 minutes before kick-off is comfortable. Arriving 30 minutes before is stressful. Arriving at kick-off means you miss the atmosphere that makes AFCON worth attending.
| Starting point | Normal journey to Mkapa | Allow on match day |
|---|---|---|
| Msasani / Masaki | 25–35 min | 60–75 min |
| City centre | 15–25 min | 40–55 min |
| Airport (JNIA) | 15–20 min | 35–50 min |
7. Bring a Power Bank — A Full One
A match day at AFCON 2027 lasts 4 to 5 hours from leaving your hotel to returning. Your phone is your ticket, your navigation, your camera and your Bolt. Three hours of stadium use, photography, messaging and navigation will drain most smartphone batteries to under 20%. A dead phone on match day means no Bolt home. Bring a power bank — a large one, fully charged the night before.
8. Withdraw TZS Before You Leave Your Hotel Area
ATMs near stadiums are unreliable on match days — queues are long, machines run out of cash and network failures are common. Withdraw Tanzanian Shillings from ATMs in Msasani, Masaki or your hotel area before you travel to the stadium. Stadium food, drinks and merchandise vendors prefer cash. Carry enough for the match day but do not carry your entire travel budget — keep the rest in your hotel safe.
Approximate match day cash needs: 15,000–40,000 TZS depending on food and drink consumption. See our complete money guide for ATM locations and currency tips.
9. Buy a Local SIM Card at the Airport
Your home SIM card will work in Tanzania on roaming — at rates that will shock you when you get home. A Vodacom Tanzania SIM bought at Julius Nyerere International Airport costs approximately 2,000 TZS and gives you local data rates for Bolt, maps, WhatsApp and the CAF ticketing app throughout your stay. Buy it in arrivals before you exit the airport. It takes 10 minutes and saves significant money over your entire trip. See our SIM card guide.
10. Eat Before You Go — Do Not Rely on Stadium Food
AFCON 2027 stadium concessions will be operating at full capacity but a 60,000-person crowd creates queues that can take 30 minutes to clear during half-time. Stadium food is also significantly more expensive than the same food purchased outside. Eat a proper meal at your hotel or a restaurant near your accommodation before you travel. Bring sealed snacks if you need something during the match. The best meal of your AFCON 2027 trip will not be inside a stadium.
11. Dress for the Weather — It Is Hotter Than You Expect
Dar es Salaam in June and July is 28 to 32°C with high coastal humidity. Inside a full stadium with 60,000 people the temperature rises further. Wear light, breathable clothing regardless of what your team’s kit looks like. Bring sunscreen for afternoon kick-offs — the East African sun is strong even in the “cooler” June-July period. For evening matches a very light layer is worth having for after the match when temperatures drop slightly.
Arusha is significantly cooler — 18 to 25°C at altitude. A light jacket or layer is worth packing if you are attending Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium matches.
12. Know Which Fan Zone to Use After the Match
Do not go directly from the stadium to your hotel after every match. The post-match fan zones are where AFCON 2027 comes alive — fans from 24 nations celebrating or commiserating together in a way that only happens at a continental tournament. In Dar es Salaam the Slipway at Msasani Peninsula is the main fan hub — large screens, food, drinks and a coastal atmosphere that runs well after midnight on match nights. See our nightlife guide for the full post-match options.
13. Watch Matches You Are Not Attending
You cannot attend every match. But you can watch every match — AFCON 2027 will be broadcast on large screens at fan zones across all three host cities. A group stage match on a big screen at the Slipway with a cold Kilimanjaro beer, surrounded by fans from Algeria, Nigeria and Morocco — this is also AFCON 2027. Do not spend your non-match days in your hotel room.
See our complete broadcast guide for how to watch every match on TV and streaming in your home country and at the fan zones in Tanzania.
14. Move Between Host Cities — It Is Easier Than You Think
AFCON 2027 spans three countries but internal travel is straightforward. Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar is 25 minutes by flight or 2 hours by fast ferry. Dar es Salaam to Arusha is 1 hour by flight. Nairobi to Dar es Salaam is 1 hour by flight. A fan with 10 days in East Africa can realistically attend matches in two or three different cities and still have time for a Zanzibar beach day or a Serengeti safari morning.
| Route | Method | Time | Cost (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSM → Zanzibar | Flight or fast ferry | 25 min / 2 hrs | $30–80 / $10–15 |
| DSM → Arusha | Flight | 1 hour | $60–120 |
| DSM → Nairobi | Flight | 1 hour | $80–150 |
| Nairobi → Kampala | Flight | 1 hour | $80–150 |
See our flights guide for the full internal route options.
15. Respect the Culture — It Makes Everything Better
Tanzania is a welcoming, safe and hospitable country — but it is not a theme park built for football fans. A few things worth knowing:
- Greet people — “Habari” (how are you) and “Asante” (thank you) in Swahili go a long way. Tanzanians appreciate the effort even if your pronunciation is imperfect. See our Swahili phrases guide.
- Dress modestly away from beach areas — Tanzania is a conservative country outside of tourist zones. Short shorts and sleeveless tops are fine near the beach and at the stadium but not in markets, mosques or local areas.
- Bargain at markets, not at restaurants — haggling is expected and normal at craft markets. It is not appropriate at restaurants, hotels or formal shops.
- Ask before photographing people — always ask permission before taking photos of local people, especially in non-tourist areas.
The fans who have the best AFCON 2027 experience will not be the ones who planned every minute — they will be the ones who showed up curious, respectful and ready to let East Africa surprise them.
For the complete match day guide for Benjamin Mkapa Stadium specifically see our stadium match day guide. For accommodation in Dar es Salaam see our accommodation guide. For the complete safety guide see our safety guide. For tickets see our tickets guide.
Match day tips based on AFCON 2025 fan experience reporting, CAF official ticketing guidelines and local knowledge from Dar es Salaam. Stadium traffic and journey time estimates based on Dar es Salaam road network and AFCON 2025 precedent. Currency amounts correct as of August 2026.