DAR ES SALAAM, June 19 -- AS the countdown to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gathers momentum, much of the public discussion has understandably centred on stadium construction, transport infrastructure, security arrangements and the readiness of the national teams.

However, one crucial stakeholder remains largely absent from the conversation: the private sector.

The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, is not merely a football spectacle.

It is one of Africas largest sporting and commercial events, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and a television audience running into billions across the continent and beyond. For Tanzanian businesses, AFCON 2027 presents a oncein-a-generation oppor...