From Underdogs to Game-Changers: Tanzania’s AFCON Hat-Trick Qualification Shakes Africa

LAST weekend, the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium turned into a theatre of dreams…The kind where you pinch yourself and still find Simon Msuva’s goal in the 61st minute lodged firmly in reality.

Tanzania, the land of Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar sunsets, is now the land of three national teams storming Africa’s biggest football stages.

Yes, three. Not one, not two—three! If you are not clapping right now, please let our immigrations guys check your Tanzanian ID at the door (smile).

The Taifa Stars, Twiga Stars and Ngorongoro Heroes have all qualified for their respective AFCON tournaments and the continent is officially on notice.

For years, we have played the underdog role so well we were starting to look like extras in someone else’s footballing movie.

But now? Oh, now we are the main characters, complete with plot twists, redemption arcs and the kind of drama that makes for excellent Sunday giggles.

So, grab your kahawa (or something stronger), because this story is going to leave you giggling from ear to ear.

Let us start with the big boys, the Taifa Stars, whose victory over Guinea was the footballing equivalent of a microphone drop.

The game was tense, the crowd was electric and Simon Msuva decided it was the perfect time to channel his inner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mudathir Yahya’s cross was so precise it probably had a GPS and Msuva’s header? Poetry. Pure poetry.

It did not just send the ball into the back of the net; it sent the entire stadium into orbit.

But wait, there is more. Guinea came into this match like a lion, on a three-game winning streak. By the end, they left like a cat that had just discovered water.

Their star midfielder, Mady Camara, even rattled the crossbar early on, but that was as close as they got.

Substitute Kandet Diawara had a last-gasp chance to equalise, but his miss will haunt him longer than the memory of us celebrating in their faces.

As for our defence? Rock solid. Dickson Job and Shomari Kapombe could have built a wall so high it would make architects jealous.

Guinea tried everything—long balls, short passes, probably a prayer or two—but Taifa Stars were not having it.

The 1-0 scoreline was enough to punch our ticket to Morocco and let us just say the party has not stopped since.

The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to begin on December 21, 2025 and will culminate with the final on January 18, 2026.

Over on the women’s side, the Twiga Stars are busy rewriting history books with their qualification for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

If that does not make you proud, please find the nearest Twiga Stars fan for a much-needed pep talk.

I wrote in February that it has been a long wait for them to surge ahead since their last appearance at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in 2010. Do the math….

Their journey might have taken a bit longer than expected, but that just adds to the charm and anticipation surrounding this talented squad.

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While Twiga Stars celebrate their triumph, our neighbours Burundi and Kenya failed to make it past the last hurdle of the qualifiers.

This might have raised some eyebrows and led them to believe that Tanzania receives preferential treatment.

Maybe they are still wondering if Tanzania has a direct hotline to football providence.

“Is Tanzania the teacher’s pet of African football?” they might even be murmuring in disappointment.

But hey, success comes to those who work hard, not those who complain about others’ luck.

Now, about the spectacular last Friday night under the Moroccan sky, when the WAFCON 2024 draw took centre stage at the Mohammed VI Technical Centre in Sale, Morocco.

The draw marked the symbolic start of the competition, which will run from July 5 to 26, 2025.

Amid the glitz, cheers and nervous anticipation, we learned of our fate— we have been slotted into the veritable “group of death,” Group C, alongside South Africa, Ghana and Mali.

Group C is what football analysts like to call “challenging,” and what the rest of us like to call, “Dear Lord, why us?”

We are up against South Africa (the reigning champions), Ghana (the powerhouse) and Mali (the unpredictable wildcard).

Let us talk about South Africa for a second. These ladies did not just win the last WAFCON—they dominated it.

Their goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, is basically a wall with gloves. If she is not stopping shots, she is probably writing a self-help book titled, “How to Crush Dreams with a Smile.”

Ghana, on the other hand, brings physicality, skill and fans who cheer like their voices are solar powered.

And Mali? Well, they are the team you underestimate at your own peril. They are scrappy, fearless and very capable of ruining someone’s day.

But let us not forget who we are. Twiga Stars fought tooth and nail to get here, eliminating Ivory Coast and Togo in the qualifiers

Those were not just matches; they were battles.

If we have learned anything, it is that Tanzanian women do not back down. They play with heart and every goal feels like a gift wrapped in determination.

Now, let us shine the spotlight on the Ngorongoro Heroes, who are putting the “future” in “future of Tanzanian football.”

These young men clinched their U-20 AFCON spot in style, defeating Kenya 2-1 in a CECAFA qualifiers final that had more twists than a telenovela.

Kenya struck first, as they always like to do, with Hassan Kitsao scoring in the 48th minute.

But our boys were not about to let the neighbours ruin our party. Valentino Kusengama equalised with a goal so smooth it should come with a jazz soundtrack.

Then, in the dying minutes, Sheikhan Khamis unleashed a long-range screamer that left the Kenyan goalkeeper looking like he had just been hit by a football-shaped meteor.

Revenge, they say, is a dish best served cold. For the Ngorongoro Heroes, it was served with extra flair, erasing the memory of Kenya’s earlier group-stage victory.

Now they head to the U-20 AFCON finals to be hosted by South Africa in January 2025, with heads held high and a belief that they can take on anyone.

So here we are. Our three teams gearing up for AFCON glory. It is almost too good to be true, isn’t it?

For years, we have watched other nations steal the spotlight, wondering when our turn would come.

Well, folks, the wait is over. We are not just attending the party—we are bringing the vibe, the moves and the energy to light up the dance floor.

And let us not forget the broader significance. This is not just about football; it is about unity, pride and showing the world what Tanzania is capable of.

From the Taifa Stars’ resilience to the Twiga Stars’ determination and the Ngorongoro Heroes’ youthful exuberance, these teams embody the spirit of a nation that dares to dream big.

Well, if there is one thing Tanzanians do so well, it is proving people wrong.

For years, we have been the underdogs, the dark horses, the “Oh, kumbe they are also playing?” Team. Not anymore.

Now, we are the story everyone’s talking about. And let us be honest—there is something deeply satisfying about watching the so-called “favourites” squirm when they realise Tanzania is not here to play nice.

Still, the road ahead won’t be easy.

The Taifa Stars will face tough opposition in Morocco, the Twiga Stars will battle giants in Morocco and the Ngorongoro Heroes will have to hold their own against Africa’s best young talents.

But if there is one thing we know, it is this: Tanzanians never give up. Whether it’s on the pitch, in the stands, or in life, we fight until the very end.

As we count down to 2025, the excitement is palpable. What is at stake is more than just trophies; it is a chance to inspire future generations.

These tournaments are an opportunity to show every young boy and girl in Tanzania that dreams do come true, that hard work pays off and that even the underdog can have its day.

So, to the Taifa Stars, Twiga Stars and Ngorongoro Heroes: Go out there and make us proud.

Play with heart, fight with courage and never forget—you are not just representing a team; you are carrying the hopes of a nation.

And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, we will see one of you lifting a trophy.

Until then, let us stock up on popcorn, practice our vuvuzela skills and get ready to cheer like there is no tomorrow.

Because win, lose, or draw, one thing is certain: Tanzania’s footballing story is just getting started,and it is already a blockbuster.

“From Underdogs to Game-Changers: Tanzania’s Three-Team AFCON Qualification Shakes Africa”.