‘A special generation’— Karia talks of Taifa Stars

MOROCCO: TANZANIA Football Federation (TFF) President Wallace Karia has showered praise on Taifa Stars for elevating Tanzania’s profile on the continental and global football stage following their impressive campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Tanzania’s journey came to an end in the Round of 16 after a spirited 1–0 defeat to tournament hosts Morocco, with the decisive goal scored by Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz, who has been in outstanding form for both club and country.

After the narrow loss, Karia emphasised that Taifa Stars’ overall performance marked a significant leap forward for Tanzanian football.

“I congratulate our young players for placing Tanzania on a respectable football map, this generation is special, and I strongly believe they will deliver even greater success in the near future,” Karia said.

The tournament proved historic for Tanzania, as the Taifa Stars reached the knockout stages for the first time since their AFCON debut, a landmark achievement that reflects the nation’s steady growth on the African football scene.

Their disciplined displays, resilience and growing confidence earned admiration from fans and football analysts across the continent.

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Karia also expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the team’s successful preparation, with special recognition given to the government and organisers of the pre-tournament training camp in Egypt.

“Special appreciation goes to all stakeholders, led by the government, for ensuring the team had excellent preparations, their support played a huge role in making sure the squad faced no major challenges,” he noted.

Addressing the future of interim Head Coach Miguel Gamondi, Karia revealed that discussions are ongoing. Gamondi was appointed on a temporary basis for the tournament, and his long-term future will be determined through further consultations.

“When we first came into agreement with Gamondi, I told him it would be easy to offer him a long-term contract if we passed the group stage and now, we must sit down and talk again, especially since he already has more than six offers from various clubs and national teams,” Karia explained.

Karia concluded by highlighting his engagement with global football leadership, noting that both FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe personally congratulated him on Tanzania’s progress.

“President Infantino told me he was proud of us after our match against Morocco, while President Motsepe (CAF President) encouraged me to continue doing good work as a leader,” Karia said.