The Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda, has said the arrival of former Manchester United and England national team player and captain, Rio Ferdinand, in Tanzania is a sign to show the world that Tanzania is an independent country and is ready for the AFCON 2027 tournament.
Makonda said this on May 19, 2026 after receiving his guest Rio Ferdinand at the Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam immediately after the former soccer star arrived in Dar es Salaam.
In an interview with the media, Rio Ferdinand said he was convinced to come to the country because it is a beautiful country that loves soccer.
The star, who won 14 trophies in his 12 years with Manchester United, said after holding talks with the Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda, he decided to visit the country which he also believes will open up various opportunities including tourism and developing the talents of players.
“For me, this trip is about people, culture, football and opportunities. Tanzania has a huge passion for sports and has a very motivated young generation and I am looking forward to learning more, meeting people face to face and seeing how we can build meaningful opportunities together in the future”, he said.
“It is an honour to have the opportunity to meet with His Excellency the President, Samia Suluhu Hassan and other leaders during my visit and I am looking forward to gaining more experience about this beautiful country”, Rio continued.
The centre-back is among the players who have achieved great success by winning a large number of titles at club level. Ferdinand’s greatest achievement in football came with Manchester United, where he won 14 trophies during his 12-year spell at the club.
Six Premier League titles, one Champions League, one Club World Cup, four Community Shields and two League Cups. With West Ham, Rio Ferdinand won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999. Ferdinand’s personal achievements in football include being named in the FIFA World Team of the Year once and being named in the Premier League Team of the Year six times.
