TZ league ascends in global ranking

TANZANIA: THE International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has ranked the Mainland Premier League as the fourth strongest league in Africa for 2024, marking a significant achievement for Tanzanian football.

Tanzania, ranked sixth last year, has climbed two spots in 2024, surpassing South Africa and Tunisia.

Globally, the Mainland Premier League now sits at 57th in the IFFHS world rankings, a significant achievement amid fierce competition from established leagues worldwide.

This recognition underscores the growing competitiveness of the league and its increasing prominence on the continental football stage.

The success of Young Africans and Simba SC in CAF inter-club competitions is a clear testament to the strength of the Tanzanian league.

Simba SC, in particular, has established a strong identity over the past five years, consistently excelling beyond groups in continental competitions. Over this period, the club has reached the quarterfinals of CAF competitions five times in a row.

They have made notable appearances in the CAF Confederation Cup, reaching the quarterfinals in both the 2021/2022 and 2024/2025 seasons, with the current season still underway, giving them a real chance to go even further.

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Additionally, Simba have featured in the CAF Champions League three times in five years (2020/2021, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024), consistently progressing beyond the group stage and advancing to the quarterfinals with impressive performances.

This sustained success has become a hallmark of Simba, reinforcing their status as one of Africa’s top clubs.

Young Africans, another dominant Tanzanian side, have also excelled in regional competitions, securing a CAF Confederation Cup medal in the 2022/2023 season and reaching the quarterfinals in the 2023/2024 season.

Together, the success of both teams has propelled Tanzania into the top twelve nations among the 54 CAF member associations, earning the country the privilege of sending four teams to regional competitions—two to the CAF Champions League and two to the CAF Confederation Cup.

In terms of the CAF fiveyear rankings, Simba sit in sixth place with 38 points, while Young Africans occupy tenth place with 34 points.

With Simba’s continued strong performance, particularly if they advance past the quarterfinals, there is a real opportunity for them to climb further in the rankings, earning even more points and solidifying Tanzania’s place among Africa’s elite football nations.