Taifa Stars made Tanzanians proud

DAR ES SALAAM: CONGRATULATIONS to Taifa Stars, you made history and you made us proud.

Reaching the quarter-finals of a continental competition for the first time is no small feat. This campaign in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 was a powerful statement: Tanzania has arrived.

We were unbeaten in the group stage. We beat Burkina Faso. We beat Madagascar. We beat Mauritania. We drew with the Central African Republic (CAR). All at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. And even when we finally fell 1-0 to Morocco – the giants of African football we didn’t fall quietly.

Over 41,000 fans roared for Tanzania that night. That’s pride. That’s passion. That’s progress.

This was a performance built on belief. Four of our five matches saw Tanzanian players named Man of the Match: Feisal Salum twice, Clement Mzize and Mudathir Yahya once each. That kind of consistency isn’t luck; it’s commitment and courage. This run gave us heroes. It gave us hope.

But beyond football, this tournament taught us something bigger. The spirit that fans showed at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium – united behind one flag, one anthem, one team is the culture we must carry forward.

We have seen how loud we can be when Simba and Young Africans clash. Imagine if we always brought that energy for Taifa Stars. That’s what our country needs, especially with Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 coming home.

Yes, there were lessons. Security gaps. Some confusion. But it was our first time on this stage. We adapted.

When vuvuzelas were banned, fans picked up drums. The beat never stopped. That’s resilience. That’s learning. And this isn’t just for Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, our partners in hosting 2027, were watching and learning too. Pamoja we stepped up. Pamoja we’ll go further.

Now it is the time to build. Let’s show up at stadiums. Let’s support our national team with the same fire we show for our clubs. Every fan in the stands matters not just for the players, but for our economy, our confidence and our global standing.

Taifa Stars gave us a reason to believe. Let’s not wait for another tournament to act like a footballing nation. The time is now. The pride is real. And the road to 2027 starts here with every one of us.