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Tanzania national football team facts for kids

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Tanzania
Shirt badge/Association crest
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
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 137 Increase 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest 65 (February 1995)
Lowest 175 (October–November 2005)
Elo ranking
Current 128 Increase 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

      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

2022

2023

Coaches

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
  • West Germany Bert Trautmann (1975)
  • England Geoff Hudson (1977–1979)
  • Poland Slawomir Wolk (1979–1980)
  • Tanzania Mahammed Msomali (1980–1981)
  • West Germany Rudi Gutendorf (1981)
  • Zanzibar Joseph Bendera (1981-1985)
  • Tanzania Paul West (1985-1989)
  • Tanzania Charles Boniface Mkwasa (1989-1992)
  • TanzaniaKayuni Dunday (1993-1995)
  • Brazil Clóvis de Oliveira (1995–1996)
  • Tanzania Badru Hafidh (1996-1998)
  • Tanzania Sylersaid Mziray (1998-1999)
  • Tanzania Mansour Magram (1999-00)
  • Germany Burkhard Pape (2000–01)
  • Tanzania Mshindo Msolla (2001-02)
  • Kenya James Siang'a (2002)
  • Tanzania Mshindo Msolla (2002–03)
  • Tanzania Badru Hafidh (2003–06)
  • Brazil Júlio César Leal (2006)
  • Brazil Márcio Máximo (2006–10)
  • Denmark Jan Poulsen (2010–12)
  • Denmark Kim Poulsen (2012–14)
  • Tanzania Salum Madadi (2014)
  • Netherlands Mart Nooij (2014–2015)
  • Tanzania Charles Boniface Mkwasa (2015–2017)
  • Tanzania Salum Mayanga (2017–2018)
  • Nigeria Emmanuel Amunike (2018–2019)
  • Burundi Etienne Ndayiragije (2019–2021)
  • Denmark Kim Poulsen (2021–2022)
  • Zambia Honour Janza (2022)
  • Tanzania 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.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
18 1GK Aishi Manula (1995-09-13) 13 September 1995 (age 28) 51 0 Tanzania Simba
1 1GK Beno Kakolanya (1994-06-27) 27 June 1994 (age 29) 0 0 Tanzania Simba
22 1GK Saidi Kipao (1996-12-29) 29 December 1996 (age 26) 0 0 Tanzania Kagera Sugar

2DF Abdi Banda (1995-05-20) 20 May 1995 (age 28) 19 0 South Africa Chippa United
2DF Dickson Job (2000-12-29) 29 December 2000 (age 22) 11 0 Tanzania Young Africans
2DF Kibwana Shomari (2000-11-21) 21 November 2000 (age 22) 5 0 Tanzania Young Africans
2DF Charles Luhende (1989-01-21) 21 January 1989 (age 34) 2 0 Tanzania Kagera Sugar
2DF Oscar Masai (2000-01-13) 13 January 2000 (age 23) 0 0 Tanzania Azam
2DF Abdallah Mfuko (1993-03-23) 23 March 1993 (age 30) 0 0 Tanzania Kagera Sugar
2DF Datius Peter (1998-11-26) 26 November 1998 (age 24) 0 0 Tanzania Kagera Sugar
2DF Abdulmalik Zakaria (1996-03-03) 3 March 1996 (age 27) 0 0 Tanzania Namungo

3MF Himid Mao (1992-11-15) 15 November 1992 (age 30) 61 2 Egypt Ghazl El Mahalla
3MF Mzamiru Yassin (1996-01-03) 3 January 1996 (age 27) 36 0 Tanzania Simba
3MF Feisal Salum (1998-01-11) 11 January 1998 (age 25) 25 2 Tanzania Young Africans
3MF Sospeter Bajana (1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 (age 26) 1 0 Tanzania Azam
3MF Mohamed Banka (1995-12-16) 16 December 1995 (age 27) 0 0 Tanzania Namungo
3MF Carlos Protas (2002-09-16) 16 September 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Kenya Tusker
3MF David Uromi (1999-12-31) 31 December 1999 (age 23) 0 0 Tanzania Moroka Swallows

4FW Saimon Msuva (1993-10-02) 2 October 1993 (age 29) 77 18 Saudi Arabia Al-Qadsiah
4FW Mbwana Samatta (1992-12-23) 23 December 1992 (age 30) 68 22 Belgium Genk
4FW Ibrahim Joshua (1994-07-29) 29 July 1994 (age 29) 2 0 Kenya Tusker
4FW Said Khamis (2000-07-20) 20 July 2000 (age 23) 0 0 United Arab Emirates Hatta Club
4FW Habib Kiyombo (2000-12-21) 21 December 2000 (age 22) 0 0 Tanzania Simba

Recent call-ups

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 Metacha Mnata (1998-11-25) 25 November 1998 (age 24) 9 0 Free agent vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
GK Abutwalib Mshery 0 0 Tanzania Mtibwa Sugar vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022

DF Shomari Kapombe (1992-01-28) 28 January 1992 (age 31) 81 1 Tanzania Simba vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
DF Mohamed Husseini (1996-11-01) 1 November 1996 (age 26) 32 0 Tanzania Simba vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
DF Bakari Mwamnyeto (1995-10-05) 5 October 1995 (age 27) 26 0 Tanzania Young Africans vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
DF Kennedy Juma (1994-09-27) 27 September 1994 (age 28) 10 0 Tanzania Simba vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
DF Haji Mnoga (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 21) 3 0 England Gillingham vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
DF Abdalla Kheri (1996-10-10) 10 October 1996 (age 26) 2 0 Tanzania Azam vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
DF Israel Mwenda (2000-03-10) 10 March 2000 (age 23) 5 1 Tanzania KMC v.  Sudan, 29 March 2022
DF Lusajo Mwaikenda (2000-10-27) 27 October 2000 (age 22) 2 0 Tanzania Azam v.  Sudan, 29 March 2022

MF Salum Abubakar (1989-02-21) 21 February 1989 (age 34) 50 1 Tanzania Young Africans vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
MF Novatus Dismas (2002-09-02) 2 September 2002 (age 21) 10 2 Belgium Zulte Waregem vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
MF Aziz Andabwile (2000-05-12) 12 May 2000 (age 23) 2 0 Tanzania Mbeya City vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
MF Ben Starkie (2002-07-23) 23 July 2002 (age 21) 2 0 England Basford United vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
MF Jonas Mkude (1992-12-03) 3 December 1992 (age 30) 36 0 Tanzania Simba v.  Sudan, 29 March 2022
MF Zawadi Mauya (1994-11-26) 26 November 1994 (age 28) 2 0 Tanzania Young Africans v.  Sudan, 29 March 2022

FW Faridi Mussa (1996-06-21) 21 June 1996 (age 27) 37 1 Tanzania Young Africans vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
FW Nickson Kibabage (2000-10-12) 12 October 2000 (age 22) 14 0 Tanzania Kinondoni Municipal Council vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
FW Denis Kibu (1998-12-04) 4 December 1998 (age 24) 7 0 Tanzania Simba vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
FW Reliants Lusajo (1990-03-07) 7 March 1990 (age 33) 7 0 Tanzania Namungo vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
FW Kelvin John (2003-06-10) 10 June 2003 (age 20) 5 0 Belgium Genk vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
FW Abdul Hamisi Suleiman (2001-02-26) 26 February 2001 (age 22) 5 0 Tanzania Coastal Union vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
FW George Mpole (1998-07-27) 27 July 1998 (age 25) 4 2 Tanzania Geita Gold vs.  Algeria, 8 June 2022
FW Tepsi Evance (2002-12-30) 30 December 2002 (age 20) 0 0 Tanzania Azam v.  Sudan, 29 March 2022

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.

Player records

Players in bold are still active with Tanzania.

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
Uruguay 1930 to Mexico 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 To be determined
Total 0/22 41 11 12 18 43 60

Africa Cup of Nations record

Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances: 2
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Sudan 1957 Not affiliated to CAF
Egypt 1959
Ethiopia 1962
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965
Ethiopia 1968 Withdrew during qualifying
Sudan 1970 Did not qualify
Cameroon 1972
Egypt 1974
Ethiopia 1976
Ghana 1978
Nigeria 1980 Group stage 7th 3 0 1 2 3 6
Libya 1982 Withdrew
Côte d'Ivoire 1984 Did not qualify
Egypt 1986 Withdrew during qualifying
Morocco 1988 Did not qualify
Algeria 1990
Senegal 1992
Tunisia 1994 Withdrew during qualifying
South Africa 1996 Did not qualify
Burkina Faso 1998
Ghana Nigeria 2000
Mali 2002
Tunisia 2004 Withdrew during qualifying
Egypt 2006 Did not qualify
Ghana 2008
Angola 2010
Gabon Equatorial Guinea 2012
South Africa 2013
Equatorial Guinea 2015
Gabon 2017
Egypt 2019 Group stage 24th 3 0 0 3 2 8
Cameroon 2021 Did not qualify
Côte d'Ivoire 2023 To be determined
Guinea 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
Côte d'Ivoire 2009 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 2 2
Sudan 2011 Did not qualify
South Africa 2014
Rwanda 2016
Morocco 2018
Cameroon 2020 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 3 4
Algeria 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
Nigeria 1973 7th 3 0 0 3 3 7
Total 1/4

Gossage Cup / CECAFA Cup

Honours

CECAFA Cup :
  • 3 Times Champion (1974, 1994, 2010)
  • 5 Times Runners-up (1973, 1980, 1981, 1992, 2002)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Tanzania para niños

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Oscar De La Hoya
Michael Carbajal
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