This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Tanzania women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Tanzania
 |
Nickname(s) |
Taifa Stars |
---|
Association |
Tanzania Football Federation |
---|
Confederation |
CAF (Africa) |
---|
Sub-confederation |
CECAFA (East & Central Africa) |
---|
Head coach |
Dean Alty (caretaker) |
---|
Captain |
Mbwana Samatta |
---|
Most caps |
Erasto Nyoni (107) |
---|
Top scorer |
Mrisho Ngasa (25) |
---|
Home stadium |
National Stadium |
---|
FIFA code |
TAN |
---|
|
|
|
FIFA ranking |
---|
Current |
137 1 (7 February 2019) |
---|
Highest |
65 (February 1995) |
---|
Lowest |
175 (October–November 2005) |
---|
Elo ranking |
---|
Current |
128 2 (3 March 2019) |
---|
Highest |
75 (11 November 1979) |
---|
Lowest |
168 (19 December 2004) |
---|
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 |
2 (first in 1980) |
---|
Best result |
Group stage (1980 and 2019) |
---|
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 Dean Alty from Tanzania. 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). Tanzania has qualified for 4 World cups
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.
History
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.
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.
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.
Recent results and fixtures
Main page: Tanzania national football team results
Win Draw Loss
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2021
Friendly 9 December |
Tanzania  |
0–2 |
Uganda |
|
|
---|
|
|
https://www.skysports.com/football/tanzania-vs-uganda/461033 |
Asaba 71'
Vuni 90+1' |
|
|
2022
2023 AFCON qualification 4 June |
Niger  |
1–1 |
Tanzania |
Cotonou, Benin |
|
---|
17:00 |
- Sosah
26'
|
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/04/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/niger/tanzania/3783021/ |
- Mpole
1'
|
Stadium: Stade de l'Amitié
Referee: Komlanvi Aklassou (Togo)
|
|
2023 AFCON qualification 8 June |
Tanzania  |
0–2 |
Algeria |
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
|
---|
19:00 UTC+3 |
|
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/08/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/tanzania/algeria/3783023/ |
|
Stadium: National Stadium (Tanzania)
Referee: Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)
|
|
2023
2023 AFCON qualification September |
Uganda  |
v |
Tanzania |
Uganda |
|
---|
|
|
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/19/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/uganda/tanzania/3783025/ |
|
|
|
2023 AFCON qualification September |
Tanzania  |
v |
Uganda |
Tanzania |
|
---|
|
|
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/27/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/tanzania/uganda/3783027/ |
|
|
|
2023 AFCON qualification March |
Tanzania  |
v |
Niger |
|
|
---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2023 AFCON qualification March |
Algeria  |
v |
Tanzania |
|
|
---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coaches
- Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
Bert Trautmann (1975)
Geoff Hudson (1977–1979)
Slawomir Wolk (1979–1980)
Mahammed Msomali (1980–1981)
Rudi Gutendorf (1981)
Joseph Bendera (1981-1985)
Paul West (1985-1989)
Charles Boniface Mkwasa (1989-1992)
Kayuni Dunday (1993-1995)
Clóvis de Oliveira (1995–1996)
Badru Hafidh (1996-1998)
Sylersaid Mziray (1998-1999)
Mansour Magram (1999-00)
Burkhard Pape (2000–01)
Mshindo Msolla (2001-02)
James Siang'a (2002)
Mshindo Msolla (2002–03)
Badru Hafidh (2003–06)
Júlio César Leal (2006)
Márcio Máximo (2006–10)
Jan Poulsen (2010–12)
Kim Poulsen (2012–14)
Salum Madadi (2014)
Mart Nooij (2014–2015)
Charles Boniface Mkwasa (2015–2017)
Salum Mayanga (2017–2018)
Emmanuel Amunike (2018–2019)
Etienne Ndayiragije (2019–2021)
Kim Poulsen (2021–2022)
Honour Janza (2022)
Dean Alty (2022-)
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Uganda and Libya on 24 and 27 September 2022.
- Caps and goals correct as of 8 June 2022, after the match against Algeria.
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for Tanzania in the last 12 months.
Player records
- Players in bold are still active with Tanzania.
Most appearances
Rank |
Name |
Caps |
Goals |
Career |
---|
1 |
Erasto Nyoni |
107 |
7 |
2006–present |
2 |
Mrisho Ngassa |
100 |
25 |
2006–2015 |
3 |
Kelvin Yondani |
97 |
0 |
2008–present |
4 |
Raphael Bocco |
82 |
17 |
2009–present |
5 |
Shomari Kapombe |
81 |
1 |
2011–present |
6 |
Juma Kaseja |
79 |
0 |
2002–present |
7 |
Simon Msuva |
77 |
18 |
2012–present |
8 |
Mbwana Samatta |
68 |
22 |
2011–present |
9 |
Shaban Nditi |
62 |
2 |
2002–2012 |
10 |
Himid Mao |
61 |
2 |
2013–present |
|
Top goalscorers
Rank |
Name |
Goals |
Caps |
Ratio |
Career |
---|
1 |
Mrisho Ngassa |
25 |
100 |
0.25 |
2006–2015 |
2 |
Mbwana Samatta |
22 |
68 |
0.32 |
2011–present |
3 |
Simon Msuva |
18 |
77 |
0.23 |
2012–present |
4 |
Raphael Bocco |
17 |
82 |
0.21 |
2009–present |
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–present |
Erasto Nyoni |
7 |
107 |
0.07 |
2006–present |
|
Competitive record
World Cup record
FIFA World Cup record |
|
FIFA World Cup Qualification record |
---|
Year |
Round |
Position |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
---|
1930 to 1970 |
Did not enter |
Did not enter |
1974 |
Did not qualify |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1978 |
Withdrew |
Withdrew |
1982 |
Did not qualify |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
1986 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1990 |
Did not enter |
Did not enter |
1994 |
Withdrew during qualifying |
Withdrew during qualifying |
1998 |
Did not qualify |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2002 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2006 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
2010 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
6 |
2014 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
14 |
2018 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
2022 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
10 |
2026 |
To be determined |
To be determined |
Total |
|
0/22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
41 |
11 |
12 |
18 |
43 |
60 |
---|
Africa Cup of Nations record
Main page: Tanzania at the Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations |
---|
Appearances: 2 |
---|
Year |
Round |
Position |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
---|
1957 |
Not affiliated to CAF |
1959 |
1962 |
1963 |
1965 |
1968 |
Withdrew during qualifying |
1970 |
Did not qualify |
1972 |
1974 |
1976 |
1978 |
1980 |
Group stage |
7th |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
1982 |
Withdrew |
1984 |
Did not qualify |
1986 |
Withdrew during qualifying |
1988 |
Did not qualify |
1990 |
1992 |
1994 |
Withdrew during qualifying |
1996 |
Did not qualify |
1998 |
2000 |
2002 |
2004 |
Withdrew during qualifying |
2006 |
Did not qualify |
2008 |
2010 |
2012 |
2013 |
2015 |
2017 |
2019 |
Group stage |
24th |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
2021 |
Did not qualify |
2023 |
To be determined |
2025 |
Total |
Group stage |
2/33 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
14 |
---|
African Nations Championship record
African Nations Championship |
---|
Appearances: 2 |
---|
Year |
Round |
Position |
Pld |
W |
D* |
L |
GF |
GA |
---|
2009 |
Group stage |
5th |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2011 |
Did not qualify |
2014 |
2016 |
2018 |
2020 |
Group stage |
10th |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2022 |
Did not qualify |
Total |
Group stage |
2/7 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
---|
African Games
African Games Record |
---|
Year |
Result |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GS |
GA |
---|
1973 |
7th |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
Total |
1/4 |
---|
Gossage Cup / CECAFA Cup
Main page: CECAFA Cup
Honours
- CECAFA Cup :
-
- 3 Times Champion (1974, 1994, 2010)
- 5 Times Runners-up (1973, 1980, 1981, 1992, 2002)
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Tanzania para niños