The 2016 Africa Nations Championship finals tournament will not only be an excellent opportunity for Rwandan players to put themselves on the market, but mostly importantly, put the other two host cities—Huye and Rubavu on the continental map.

The fourth edition of the continental showpiece, which only features players from their respective national championships, will be played on four venues from January 16 through February 7.

They include; Amahoro stadium (capacity 30,000), Kigali Regional stadium (both in the City of Kigali as well as Stade Huye in Huye district, Southern Province and Umuganda stadium in Rubavu ,Western Province.

To many people outside the Rwandan borders, Rwanda is Kigali and Kigali is Rwanda (not literally)—not because that’s the way it is but rather due to the fact that many, when they visit Rwanda don’t so often get to reach other areas.

And if or when they’ve done, they have been few and far between to cause a visible impact on both government and private installations that these visitors or tourists come to see.

However, those few weeks between January 16 and February 7 are without doubt, going to see thousands of foreigners (read football fans) flock the two cities of Huye and Rubavu when their teams play their group stage matches there.

With two groups of four teams playing their group stage matches at Stade Huye and Umuganda stadium respectively, it means fans of these teams will spend not less than two weeks in upcountry.

This means businesses like hotels, bars, restaurants, art and craft and so many other tourist attractions in Huye and Rubavu as well the surrounding areas will definitely boom in one way or another.

And for a change, you would hope that by the end of the three-week tournament, more Africans will have known Rwanda beyond Kigali, a lot more than they have in the last 20 years.