Tanzania national football team

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Tanzania

Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)	Taifa Stars
Association	Tanzania Football Federation (TFF)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	CECAFA (East & Central Africa)
Head coach	Hemed Morocco (interim)
Captain	Mbwana Samatta
Most caps	Erasto Nyoni (107)
Top scorer	Mrisho Ngasa (25)
Home stadium	Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
FIFA code	TAN
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	106 Steady (19 December 2024)[1]
Highest	65 (February 1995)
Lowest	175 (October–November 2005)
First international
Uganda 7–0 Tanganyika   (Uganda; Date Unknown 1945) as Tanzania  Tanzania 1–1 Kenya   (Tanzania; 1 March 1969)
Biggest win
Tanzania 7–0 Somalia   (Jinja, Uganda; 1 December 1995)  Somalia 0–7 Tanzania   (Kampala, Uganda; 1 December 2012)
Biggest defeat
Tanganyika 0–9 Kenya   (Tanganyika; Date Unknown 1956) as Tanzania  Saudi Arabia 8–0 Tanzania   (Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 11 September 1998)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	3 (first in 1980 )
Best result	Group stage (1980, 2019, 2023)
African Nations Championship
Appearances	2 (first in 2009 )
Best result	Group stage (2009, 2020)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances	3 (first in 1997 )
Best result	Third place (2017)
CECAFA Cup
Appearances	63 (first in 1945)
Best result	Champions (1949, 1950, 1951, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1994, 2010)

The Tanzania national football team (Swahili: Timu ya Taifa ya Mpira wa Miguu ya Tanzania) represents Tanzania in men's international football and is controlled by the Tanzania Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tanzania, Tanzania's home ground is Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam and their head coach is Adel Amrouche from Algeria. They are colloquially known as the Taifa Stars. Tanzania has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Before uniting with Zanzibar, the team played as the Tanganyika national football team, The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The island of Zanzibar, part of Tanzania (and once an independent nation), is also an associate member of CAF and has played matches with other nations, but is not eligible to enter the World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations. See Zanzibar national football team .

Tanzania is currently ranked 121st in the FIFA World Rankings.^[3]

Since qualifying for the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, Tanzania endured nearly 40 years without major success, struggling in both African and World Cup qualifiers. Their best effort was in 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, where the Taifa Stars defeated Burkina Faso twice and only finished three points behind group winners Senegal. In 2010 Tanzania won the CECAFA Cup for the third time.^{[citation needed ]}

A recent achievement was a 1–0 win against South Africa in the 2017 COSAFA Cup Quarter-finals. But afterwards, Tanzania lost the Semi-finals 2–4 to Zambia. Then, in the Third-place playoff, Tanzania managed to win the match against Lesotho 4–2 in a penalty shootout after the extra time ended in a goalless draw. This Third place was considered Tanzania's biggest football achievement in many years.^{[citation needed ]}

On 24 March 2019, Tanzania beat East African rivals Uganda 3–0 to reach the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 39 years. At the Finals the Taifa Stars, being the weakest team in the group, lost all three Group C matches, as predicted. A few months later, Tanzania qualified for the African Nations Championship for only the second time, as well as defeating Burundi in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.^{[citation needed ]}

On 19 November 2024 Tanzania won a narrow victory of 1–0 against Guinea which secured their fourth times Afcon qualification since 1980. A decisive goal by Simon Msuva sent them to the tournament in 2025. The Afcon finals are scheduled to take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 in Morocco.

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

The following 27 players were called up for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Ethiopia and Guinea on 4 and 10 September 2024.^[9]

Caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2024, after the match against Guinea.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Ally Salim	(2000年04月19日) 19 April 2000 (age 24)	5	0	Tanzania Simba
1GK	Abuutwalib Msheri	(1999年02月22日) 22 February 1999 (age 26)	3	0	Tanzania Young Africans
1GK	Yona Geoffrey Amosi	(1998年11月28日) 28 November 1998 (age 26)	1	0	Tanzania Tanzania Prisons
2DF	Mohamed Husseini	(1996年11月01日) 1 November 1996 (age 28)	46	0	Tanzania Simba
2DF	Bakari Mwamnyeto	(1995年10月05日) 5 October 1995 (age 29)	44	0	Tanzania Young Africans
2DF	Dickson Job	(2000年12月29日) 29 December 2000 (age 24)	25	1	Tanzania Young Africans
2DF	Ibrahim Hamad	(1997年11月12日) 12 November 1997 (age 27)	18	1	Tanzania Young Africans
2DF	Nickson Kibabage	(2000年10月12日) 12 October 2000 (age 24)	15	0	Tanzania Young Africans
2DF	Lusajo Mwaikenda	(2000年10月27日) 27 October 2000 (age 24)	12	0	Tanzania Azam
2DF	Pascal Msindo	(2003年08月15日) 15 August 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Tanzania Azam
2DF	Abdulmalik Zakaria	(1996年03月03日) 3 March 1996 (age 29)	2	0	Tanzania Namungo
2DF	Nathaniel Chilambo	(1999年11月10日) 10 November 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Tanzania Azam
3MF	Himid Mao	(1992年11月15日) 15 November 1992 (age 32)	79	2	Egypt Ghazl El Mahalla
3MF	Feisal Salum	(1998年01月11日) 11 January 1998 (age 27)	41	3	Tanzania Azam
3MF	Mudathir Yahya	(1995年05月06日) 6 May 1995 (age 29)	34	1	Tanzania Young Africans
3MF	Novatus Miroshi	(2002年09月02日) 2 September 2002 (age 22)	24	3	Turkey Göztepe
3MF	Adolf Bitegeko	(1998年12月26日) 26 December 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Tanzania Azam
3MF	Abel Josiah	(2010年11月04日) 4 November 2010 (age 14)	1	0	Tanzania TDS TFF Academy
3MF	Hussein Semfuko	(2004年05月17日) 17 May 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Tanzania Coastal Union
4FW	Edwin Balua	(2001年08月08日) 8 August 2001 (age 23)	5	0	Tanzania Simba
4FW	Clement Mzize	(2004年01月07日) 7 January 2004 (age 21)	5	0	Tanzania Young Africans
4FW	Waziri Shentembo	(1996年08月11日) 11 August 1996 (age 28)	4	1	Iraq Al-Minaa
4FW	Cyprian Kachwele	(2005年02月15日) 15 February 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Canada Whitecaps

The following players have been called up for Tanzania in the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Kwesi Kawawa	(2001年12月05日) 5 December 2001 (age 23)	3	0	Sweden Karlslunds IF	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
GK	Aishi Manula	(1995年09月13日) 13 September 1995 (age 29)	64	0	Tanzania Simba	v.  Mongolia ; 25 March 2024
DF	Haji Mnoga	(2002年04月16日) 16 April 2002 (age 22)	13	0	England Aldershot Town	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
DF	Lameck Elias Lawi	(2000年11月28日) 28 November 2000 (age 24)	2	0	Tanzania Coastal Union	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
DF	Miano van den Bos	(2003年03月31日) 31 March 2003 (age 21)	5	0	Spain Villena	v.  Sudan ; 19 May 2024
DF	Kennedy Juma	(1994年08月07日) 7 August 1994 (age 30)	11	0	Tanzania Simba	v.  Mongolia ; 25 March 2024
MF	Morice Abraham	(2003年08月13日) 13 August 2003 (age 21)	10	0	Serbia Spartak Subotica	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
MF	Yusuph Kagoma	(1996年02月01日) 1 February 1996 (age 29)	2	0	Tanzania Geita Gold	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
MF	Tarryn Allarakhia	(1997年11月17日) 17 November 1997 (age 27)	4	0	England Rochdale	v.  Sudan ; 19 May 2024
FW	Simon Msuva	(1993年10月02日) 2 October 1993 (age 31)	92	22	Algeria JS Kabylie	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
FW	Kibu Denis	(1998年12月04日) 4 December 1998 (age 26)	20	0	Tanzania Simba	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
FW	Charles M'Mombwa	(1998年03月14日) 14 March 1998 (age 26)	10	1	Australia Newcastle Jets	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
FW	Abdul Hamisi Suleiman	(2001年02月26日) 26 February 2001 (age 24)	7	0	Tanzania Azam	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
FW	Ben Starkie	(2002年07月23日) 23 July 2002 (age 22)	6	0	England Basford United	v.  Zambia ; 11 June 2024
FW	Mohammed Sagaf	(1997年11月12日) 12 November 1997 (age 27)	3	0	England Boreham Wood	v.  Sudan ; 19 May 2024
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player has retired from international football. SUS Suspended from the national team.

As of 19 November 2024^[10]

Players in bold are still active with Tanzania.

Rank	Name	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Erasto Nyoni	107	7	2006–2021
2	Mrisho Ngassa	100	25	2006–2015
3	Kelvin Yondani	97	0	2008–2021
4	Simon Msuva	94	23	2012–present
5	John Bocco	84	16	2009–2023
	Shomari Kapombe	84	1	2011–present
7	Mbwana Samatta	83	22	2011–present
8	Himid Mao	81	2	2013–present
9	Juma Kaseja	79	0	2002–2021
10	Aishi Manula	66	0	2015–present

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Mrisho Ngassa	25	100	0.25	2006–2015
2	Simon Msuva	23	94	0.24	2012–present
3	Mbwana Samatta	22	83	0.27	2011–present
4	John Bocco	16	84	0.19	2009–2023
5	John Nteze Lungu	12	22	0.55	1992–2002
6	Jerson Tegete	8	28	0.29	2006–2011
	Danny Mrwanda	8	34	0.24	2005–2011
8	Mohamed Rajab	7	20	0.35	2002–2011
	Thomas Ulimwengu	7	51	0.14	2010–2021
	Erasto Nyoni	7	107	0.07	2006–2021

FIFA World Cup record									Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1962	Not a FIFA member								Not a FIFA member
1966 and 1970	Did not enter								Did not enter
West Germany 1974	Did not qualify								3	0	2	1	1	4
Argentina 1978	Withdrew								Withdrew
Spain 1982	Did not qualify								4	1	1	2	7	6
Mexico 1986									2	0	2	0	1	1
Italy 1990	Did not enter								Did not enter
United States 1994	Withdrew during qualifying								Withdrew during qualifying
France 1998	Did not qualify								2	0	1	1	1	2
South Korea Japan 2002									2	0	0	2	2	4
Germany 2006									2	0	1	1	0	3
South Africa 2010									6	2	2	2	9	6
Brazil 2014									8	3	0	5	10	14
Russia 2018									4	1	1	2	4	10
Qatar 2022									8	2	4	2	8	10
Canada Mexico United States 2026	To be determined								3	2	0	1	2	2
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030									To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total	0/15	44	13	12	19	45	62

Africa Cup of Nations record									Qualification record
Appearances: 3									Appearances: 24
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
as  Tanganyika									as  Tanganyika
Sudan 1957	Not affiliated to CAF								Not affiliated to CAF
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962
Ghana 1963
as  Tanzania									as  Tanzania
Tunisia 1965	Not affiliated to CAF								Not affiliated to CAF
Ethiopia 1968	Withdrew during qualifying								Withdrew during qualifying
Sudan 1970	Did not qualify								4	1	1	2	3	10
Cameroon 1972									2	0	1	1	2	6
Egypt 1974									4	1	2	1	5	3
Ethiopia 1976									2	0	1	1	3	6
Ghana 1978	Withdrew during qualifying								Withdrew during qualifying
Nigeria 1980	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	3	6	4	2	1	1	8	4
Libya 1982	Withdrew								Withdrew
Ivory Coast 1984	Did not qualify								2	0	1	1	3	4
Egypt 1986	Withdrew during qualifying								Withdrew during qualifying
Morocco 1988	Did not qualify								3	0	1	2	3	6
Algeria 1990									2	0	2	0	2	2
Senegal 1992									6	1	2	3	4	7
Tunisia 1994	Withdrew during qualifying								Withdrew during qualifying
South Africa 1996	Did not qualify								10	4	0	6	14	15
Burkina Faso 1998									6	1	2	3	5	7
Ghana Nigeria 2000									2	0	0	2	0	2
Mali 2002									2	0	0	2	2	4
Tunisia 2004	Withdrew during qualifying								Withdrew during qualifying
Egypt 2006	Did not qualify								2	0	1	1	0	3
Ghana 2008									6	2	2	2	4	7
Angola 2010									2	2	2	2	9	6
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012									6	1	2	3	6	9
South Africa 2013									2	0	2	0	2	2
Equatorial Guinea 2015									4	1	2	1	6	6
Gabon 2017									4	0	1	3	0	6
Egypt 2019	Group stage	24th	3	0	0	3	2	8	6	2	2	2	6	5
Cameroon 2021	Did not qualify								6	2	1	3	5	6
Ivory Coast 2023	Group stage	22nd	3	0	2	1	1	4	6	2	2	2	3	4
Morocco 2025	Qualified								6	3	1	2	5	4
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027	Qualified as co-hosts								Qualified as co-hosts
2029	To be determined								To be determined
Total	Group stage	4/36	9	0	3	6	6	18	93	22	31	40	95	130

African Nations Championship record									Qualification record
Appearances: 2									Appearances: 7
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
Ivory Coast 2009	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	2	2	6	4	1	1	10	4
Sudan 2011	Did not qualify								3	1	1	1	7	2
South Africa 2014									2	0	0	2	1	4
Rwanda 2016									2	0	1	1	1	4
Morocco 2018									2	0	2	0	1	1
Cameroon 2020	Group stage	10th	3	1	1	1	3	4	4	1	2	1	2	2
Algeria 2022	Did not qualify								4	2	0	2	3	5
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2024	Qualified as hosts								Qualified as hosts
Total	Group stage	2/7	6	2	2	2	5	6	23	8	7	8	25	22

African Games record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
Nigeria 1973	7th	3	0	0	3	3	7
Total	1/4	3	0	0	3	3	7

• CECAFA Cup
  • Champions (3): 1974, 1994, 2010
  • Runners-up (5): 1973, 1980, 1981, 1992, 2002
  • Third place (3): 1979, 1990, 2008
• COSAFA Cup
  • Third place (1): 2017

• Tanzania at CAF
• Tanzania at FIFA

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