DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA national football team – ‘Taifa Stars’ has called some of the most experienced players as they gear up for the crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier games against Ethiopia and Guinea.
Interim Head Coach Hemed Suleiman alias Morocco yesterday in Dar es Salaam named a 26-player squad for the upcoming fixtures; against Ethiopia to take place in Kinshasa on November 16 and against Guinea on November 19 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The squad includes key players such as Simon Msuva, Aishi Manula and Shomari Kapombe – the experienced ones who were dropped for recent qualifiers against Ethiopia, Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Their return to the fold is seen as a significant boost to Tanzania’s AFCON campaign. Simba’s goalkeeper Manula, who was sidelined since March 2024 due to a hip injury sustained during a FIFA international series against Bulgaria, is back after undergoing successful surgery.
Although Manula has struggled to regain his full form at his club, Simba SC, due to limited playing time, his vast international experience is expected to add stability to the Taifa Stars’ defence. Manula was in the recent Stars squad for the CHAN qualifiers campaign.
On his part Kapombe, a mainstay in Tanzania’s defence for Simba, returns to the squad after strong performances with his club, while striker Msuva, who plays for Iraq’s side, Al-Talaba, has earned a recall following consistent form with the club.
Coach Morocco in his squad has also featured a blend of experience and youthful talent, with goalkeepers Zuberi Foba (Azam FC) and Metacha Mnata (Singida Black Stars) joining the squad.
The defensive line is strengthened by the inclusion of Lusajo Mwaikenda (Azam FC), Mohamed Hussein (Simba), Paschal Msindo (Azam), David Brayson (JKT Tanzania), Ibrahim Hamad and Dickson Job (Young Africans), alongside Abdulrazack Hamza and Muhamed Ame (Mashujaa FC).
In midfield, there are Adolf Mtasingwa (Azam, Novatus Dismas (Goztepe, Turkey), Habib Khalid (Singida Black Stars), Mudathir Yahya (Yanga) and Feisal Salum (Azam) providing a solid foundation.
While the attacking line is spearheaded by team captain Mbwana Samatta (PAOK FC, Greece), it is supported by Clement Mzize (Yanga), Kibu Denis (Simba), Idd Nado (Azam), Simon Msuva, and Cyprian Kachwele (Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada).
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Some players who were in the previous squad and were left out for various reasons, such as injury or their form, include Ally Salim and Nickson Kibabage to name a few. The final squad will look to build on their recent performances as they aim to secure a slot in the 2025 AFCON tournament finals to be staged in Morocco.
