Taifa Stars Coach unveils 28-man squad ahead of COSAFA Cup

DAR ES SALAAM: TAIFA Stars head coach Hemed Suleiman has announced a 28- man squad set to begin camp ahead of the 2024 COSAFA Cup, which kicks off on June 4 in South Africa.

Tanzania will feature in the regional tournament as a guest nation and has been placed in Group C alongside Eswatini and Madagascar.

Speaking during the announcement in Dar es Salaam, Coach Suleiman said that the players will begin training camp tomorrow, before traveling to South Africa on Tuesday.

As part of their preparations, Taifa Stars will play a friendly match against South Africa on June 6.

He noted that players from Simba and Young Africans are part of the squad however, they will return to Dar es Salaam after the friendly match to participate in the Dar es Salaam Derby scheduled for June 15, before rejoining the national team to continue with the COSAFA Cup campaign.

“We are aware of the impact their absence will have, but we have a wide pool of talent and enough depth to maintain the team’s competitiveness,” said Suleiman, adding that 20 players will remain in camp during that period.

Tanzania will begin their COSAFA journey with a match against Madagascar on June 7, followed by a fixture against Eswatini on June 11.

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The squad features Yakoub Suleiman of JKT Tanzania, Ally Salim of Simba SC and Hussein Masaranga of Singida BS.

Antony Remmy from Azam FC U20, Miraji Abdallah of Coastal Union, Shomari Kapombe and Mohamed Hussein from Simba SC, Lusajo Mwaikenda of Azam FC, Vedastus Masinde from TMA Stars FC, Wilson Nangu from JKT Tanzania and Dickson Job of Yanga SC.

Ibrahim Ame of Mashujaa FC, Pascal Msindo of Azam FC, Alphonse Mabula from Shamakhi FC in Azerbaijan, Ibrahim Abdulla and Sheikhan Khamis from Young Africans, Abdulrahim Bausi of JKT Tanzania, Idrisa Sitambuli of Mashujaa FC, Abdulrazack Mohamed, Valentino Mashaka, Kibu Denis and Yusuph Kagoma — all from Simba SC, as well as Ahmed Pipino of KMC FC and Feisal Salum of Azam FC.

Simon Msuva, who plies his trade at Al-Talaba SC in Iraq, Iddy Selemani of Azam FC, Mishano Daudi from Kengold FC and Selemani Mwalimu from Wydad Casablanca in Morocco. Also named in the squad is a player identified as Diland, whose full club details were not immediately provided.

Coach Suleiman concluded by expressing confidence in the squad’s readiness, saying the team is focused and prepared to make a mark at the COSAFA Cup.