Samia powers Taifa Stars support with 10,000 Tickets

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has once again demonstrated her love for football by covering the cost of 10,000 tickets to ensure Tanzanians who could not afford entry could still make it to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium to support Taifa Stars during the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 inaugural match.

It has become something of a tradition for President Samia to back Taifa Stars—not only by providing financial support but also by rallying the nation behind Tanzania’s flagbearers on the international sporting stage.

This time, in addition to purchasing the tickets, she has pledged a handsome 1bn/- reward should Taifa Stars lift the CHAN trophy on home soil. Earlier, President Samia also increased her well-known incentive for each goal—popularly dubbed “Mama’s Goal”—from 5m/- to 10m/- for knockout-stage goals and 20m/- per goal scored in the semi-finals.

She has further promised 200m/- if the team reaches the semi-finals and 500m/- if they progress to the final.

In line with the government’s continued commitment to supporting sports and ensuring CHAN 2024 is a success—both in organisation and in Taifa Stars’ performance—regional and district leaders have joined the drive.

Many have arranged transport to ensure as many Tanzanians as possible can get to the stadium and cheer on their national team.

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Temeke District Commissioner, Sixtus Mapunda, made a particularly striking contribution, offering 100 buses to ferry football fans to the opening ceremony and inaugural match—50 buses from Mbagala and another 50 from Buza.

Elsewhere, more than 700 football lovers from Tabora travelled to Dar es Salaam in a convoy of 10 buses. Initially, seven buses had been assigned, but after a surge in demand, organisers added three to accommodate the eager supporters.