This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
On June 17, 2020, Tanzania made history by becoming the first African country to resume a national league following its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the resumed activities, fans are allowed into stadiums, but children and the elderly have been barred from such places. To ensure their safety, fans are required to wear face masks, wash their hands, and observe social distancing rules once inside the grounds. Temperature checks will be done at the entrance of the stadiums.
The suspension of the National Premier League and other lower leagues was initially for one month, announced by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa in March as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Several African countries have cancelled their football leagues due to the pandemic, including Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, DR Congo, Kenya, Mauritius, Niger, South Sudan, and Uganda. Burundi is the only African country that has continued with its football season despite the threat of the pandemic.
