Zanzibar Heroes to celebrate historic Mapinduzi Cup win with Mwinyi

ZANZIBAR: FOLLOWING their triumphant victory over Burkina Faso in the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup final, Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has invited the national team, ‘Zanzibar Heroes’ to a special luncheon today at the State House.

President Mwinyi extended the invitation at Gombani Stadium in Pemba, shortly after the team’s thrilling 2-1 win against Burkina Faso in the final match held on Monday night and the President was the guest of honour.

Heroes had secured their spot in the final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kenya’s Harambee Stars. This year’s edition which featured four national teams; Kenya, Burkina Faso, Tanzania Mainland and hosts Zanzibar, saw the heroes rise above their competition to claim the prestigious title.

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The winners of the tournament also received a cash prize of 100m/- while the runners-up Burkina Faso were awarded 70m/-.

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Jubilation filled Gombani Stadium as fans from across Zanzibar erupted in celebration, proud to see the Mapinduzi Cup stay on home soil.

The victory over Burkina Faso, a country with a proud footballing history marked a historic achievement for the Zanzibar Heroes and fans from all walks of life in Pemba, including women, youth, elders and leaders, joined in the celebration. President Mwinyi and Second Vice President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla were among those leading the festivities.

Zanzibar Heroes’ Head Coach, Ali Bakari Ngazija, credited the team’s meticulous preparation for their success.

“We knew from the beginning that it would be a tough match, but we focused on addressing our previous mistakes and made sure not to repeat them in such a crucial game,” he said.

Ngazija emphasised that the team’s primary goal was to bring the trophy home to Zanzibar and make history.

“We were determined to win. It would have been embarrassing to lose in front of our leaders, including President Mwinyi and Vice President Abdulla. We had to uphold the honour of our team,” he added.

Burkina Faso’s Abdil Karim Rajo displayed great sportsmanship after the match, acknowledging that defeat is part of the game.

“The match was tough from start to finish. We gave our best, but luck wasn’t on our side. We will prepare better for future competitions,” Rajo commented.

The victory not only celebrated the skill and resilience of the Zanzibar Heroes but also marked a new milestone in the island’s footballing history.