Feisal Salum on AFCON PAMOJA 2027: "Together, We Are Stronger"
Photo: CAF
Tanzania midfielder Feisal Salum speaks to CAFOnline.com about AFCON PAMOJA 2027 — the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, East African rivalry, and what hosting at home means for the Taifa Stars.
With one year to go until AFCON PAMOJA 2027, Taifa Stars midfielder Feisal Salum sat down with CAFOnline.com to talk about hosting the tournament at home, the East African rivalry with Kenya and Uganda, and what it would mean to play Morocco, Senegal or Côte d'Ivoire at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Here's the interview, lightly edited for length.
Tanzania will co-host AFCON PAMOJA 2027 alongside Kenya and Uganda. How did you feel when the announcement was made?
"It was an extraordinary moment for the country and for us as players. It is a huge honour. We want to use this opportunity to show the world what Tanzania is capable of. We want to prove that we can achieve great things. Our goal is to make the nation proud and build on what we showed at the last AFCON."
Playing at home is a major advantage, but there will also be huge expectations. How is the team preparing mentally?
"We understand that hosting a tournament of this magnitude naturally comes with enormous pressure. But our approach is to turn pressure into enjoyment. We must use the passion and support around us to push ourselves beyond our limits, go as far as possible, reach the semi-finals and, why not, dream of lifting the trophy."
After your encouraging performances at the last AFCON in Morocco, what would be a realistic target for 2027?
"In Morocco, we surprised many people, but it was our supporters who carried us to those heights. That experience helped us grow. This time, with the tournament at home, we want to aim even higher. Winning the title is in God's hands. Sometimes destiny chooses another team. But one thing is certain — we will give everything we have."
The tournament is played under the banner of "PAMOJA" — Togetherness. Do you feel a special rivalry with Kenya and Uganda, or is it mainly pride in representing East Africa together?
"It's a bit of both. We have always been neighbours and there is a strong bond, especially with Kenya. This unity gives us strength and brings support from governments and people across the region.
But on the pitch, let's not hide it — the rivalry is real. There is great competition between our nations. If we face Kenya, it will be a huge occasion, a true brotherly battle. But it is a healthy rivalry, one that exists for the love of football and to give supporters a great spectacle.
At the end of the day, we want the whole world to see the beauty of East African football. We will proudly represent our colours with the support of an entire people behind us."
If you could choose one African giant to face and beat at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, who would it be?
"I would love to face Morocco, Senegal or Côte d'Ivoire. To play against those teams at home in front of our supporters would be magical. They have fantastic players and world-class attackers. Those are the kinds of matches every footballer dreams about."
Do you have a message for African football fans?
"AFCON is the pinnacle of football on the continent. By opening our doors to Africa, we want to tell our story and share our culture and hospitality.
This is a unique opportunity for all of us to celebrate together. That is why I encourage our supporters and fans from across the region to come out in large numbers. Not only for the matches, but even for the training sessions. Create a festive atmosphere and show the world our joy and unity.
This celebration belongs to all of us, and together, hand in hand, we will make it unforgettable."
If you're heading to Dar es Salaam for AFCON 2027
Salum's home ground, the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, is one of the venues likely to host group stage and knockout football during AFCON PAMOJA 2027. Dar es Salaam offers a genuinely different AFCON experience to Nairobi or Kampala — the coast, Zanzibar within easy reach, and a football culture built around Simba and Young Africans that runs as deep as anywhere on the continent.
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Interview conducted by CAFOnline.com. Originally published as "One year to TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2027: Feisal Salum (Tanzania): 'Together, we are stronger,'" 20 June 2026.
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