Taifa Stars ready for Liechtenstein test in FIFA Series

KIGALI: TANZANIA’S national team, Taifa Stars, will face Liechtenstein in the FIFA Series in Kigali today, as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals next year.

The fixture is one of two matches in the four-team tournament, which also includes Aruba and Macau. The series brings together national teams from different confederations in a centralised location for friendly matches during the international window.

The FIFA Series was introduced by FIFA to increase the number of competitive international fixtures for teams that do not regularly face opposition from other regions. It is also designed to expose national sides to different playing styles and improve competitive balance across world football by broadening match experience outside traditional confederation opponents.

According to Taifa Stars Head Coach, Miguel Gamondi, the matches are part of a wider preparation programme ahead of next year’s AFCON finals. The team reached the knockout stage at the last tournament before being eliminated by Morocco, and the current focus is on improving consistency and squad depth.

The FIFA Series began in 2024, with the inaugural edition staged in Azerbaijan and several other host nations. Tanzania was among the participating teams, where they faced opposition from Asia and Europe in a similar format.

Tanzania played two matches in the Azerbaijanhosted group, losing 1–0 to Bulgaria before responding with a 3–0 win over Mongolia.

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This year’s meeting with Liechtenstein will be the first between the two countries. The European side arrives having struggled in recent World Cup qualifying matches, while Tanzania will look to build on recent competitive performances.

The second fixture, against either Aruba or Macau, will provide further opportunity for rotation and assessment of players across the squad.