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Tanzania national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Tanzania women's national football team.
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Tanzania
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 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 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)

The Tanzania national football team (called Timu ya Taifa ya Mpira wa Miguu ya Tanzania in Swahili) plays for Tanzania in men's international soccer games. The team is controlled by the Tanzania Football Federation. This group manages all soccer in Tanzania.

The team's home stadium is Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Their current coach is Hemed Morocco. The team is often called the Taifa Stars. This means "National Stars" in Swahili.

Tanzania has never played in the FIFA World Cup. Before Tanzania became one country with Zanzibar, the team was known as the Tanganyika national football team. The team is part of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The island of Zanzibar is part of Tanzania. It is also a member of CAF. Zanzibar's team plays matches against other nations. However, they cannot enter the World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations. You can learn more about them at Zanzibar national football team.

Tanzania is currently ranked 121st in the FIFA World Rankings.

Team History

Since playing in the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, Tanzania did not have much success for almost 40 years. They found it hard to win in both African and World Cup qualifying games.

Recent Achievements

In 2010, the Taifa Stars won the CECAFA Cup for the third time. This was a big win for them.

A recent good moment was a 1–0 victory against South Africa. This happened in the 2017 COSAFA Cup Quarter-finals. After that, Tanzania lost to Zambia in the Semi-finals.

However, in the Third-place playoff, Tanzania beat Lesotho. They won 4–2 in a penalty shootout. This happened after the game ended in a draw. Getting third place was seen as a major achievement for Tanzania's soccer team in many years.

On March 24, 2019, Tanzania defeated their East African rivals Uganda 3–0. This win helped them reach the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. It was their first time in 39 years.

At the Finals, the Taifa Stars were in a tough group. They lost all three of their Group C matches. A few months later, Tanzania qualified for the African Nations Championship. This was only their second time. They also beat Burundi in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Coaching Staff

The people who coach and support the team are:

Head coach Tanzania Hemed Morocco
Assistant coach Tanzania Juma Mgunda
Assistant coach Tanzania Hemed Morocco
Assistant coach Germany Dr. Carolin Braun
Goalkeeper coach Saudi Arabia Osama Al-Hamdan
Physical coach Finland Mikael Mayoyo
Sports therapist Belgium Joris De Vos
Head of medical Tanzania Lisobine Kisongo
Team manager Tanzania Reinhard

Match Results and Upcoming Games

Main article: Tanzania national football team results

Here are the results of matches from the last 12 months. Also, any future games that are planned are listed.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2023 Matches

2024 Matches

Team Coaches

Here is a list of the coaches who have led the Tanzania national team.

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
  • West Germany Bert Trautmann (1975)
  • England Geoff Hudson (1977–1979)
  • Poland Sławomir 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)
  • Tanzania Kayuni Sunday (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)
  • Denmark Kim Poulsen (2022–2023)
  • Algeria Adel Amrouche (2023–2024)
  • Tanzania Hemed Morocco (2024–)

Team Players

Current Squad

These 27 players were chosen for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches. These games were against Ethiopia and Guinea in September 2024.

Caps (games played) and goals are correct as of September 10, 2024, after the match against Guinea.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Ally Salim (2000-04-19) 19 April 2000 (age 25) 5 0 Tanzania Simba
1GK Abuutwalib Msheri (1999-02-22) 22 February 1999 (age 26) 3 0 Tanzania Young Africans
1GK Yona Geoffrey Amosi (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 26) 1 0 Tanzania Tanzania Prisons
2DF Mohamed Husseini (1996-11-01) 1 November 1996 (age 28) 46 0 Tanzania Simba
2DF Bakari Mwamnyeto (1995-10-05) 5 October 1995 (age 29) 44 0 Tanzania Young Africans
2DF Dickson Job (2000-12-29) 29 December 2000 (age 24) 25 1 Tanzania Young Africans
2DF Ibrahim Hamad (1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 (age 27) 18 1 Tanzania Young Africans
2DF Nickson Kibabage (2000-10-12) 12 October 2000 (age 24) 15 0 Tanzania Young Africans
2DF Lusajo Mwaikenda (2000-10-27) 27 October 2000 (age 24) 12 0 Tanzania Azam
2DF Pascal Msindo (2003-08-15) 15 August 2003 (age 21) 2 0 Tanzania Azam
2DF Abdulmalik Zakaria (1996-03-03) 3 March 1996 (age 29) 2 0 Tanzania Namungo
2DF Nathaniel Chilambo (1999-11-10) 10 November 1999 (age 25) 0 0 Tanzania Azam
3MF Himid Mao (1992-11-15) 15 November 1992 (age 32) 79 2 Egypt Ghazl El Mahalla
3MF Feisal Salum (1998-01-11) 11 January 1998 (age 27) 41 3 Tanzania Azam
3MF Mudathir Yahya (1995-05-06) 6 May 1995 (age 30) 34 1 Tanzania Young Africans
3MF Novatus Miroshi (2002-09-02) 2 September 2002 (age 22) 24 3 Turkey Göztepe
3MF Adolf Bitegeko (1998-12-26) 26 December 1998 (age 26) 2 0 Tanzania Azam
3MF Abel Josiah (2010-11-04) 4 November 2010 (age 14) 1 0 Tanzania TDS TFF Academy
3MF Hussein Semfuko (2004-05-17) 17 May 2004 (age 21) 0 0 Tanzania Coastal Union
4FW Edwin Balua (2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 23) 5 0 Tanzania Simba
4FW Clement Mzize (2004-01-07) 7 January 2004 (age 21) 5 0 Tanzania Young Africans
4FW Waziri Shentembo (1996-08-11) 11 August 1996 (age 28) 4 1 Tanzania KMC
4FW Cyprian Kachwele (2005-02-15) 15 February 2005 (age 20) 1 0 Canada Whitecaps

Players Called Up Recently

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 (2001-12-05) 5 December 2001 (age 23) 3 0 Sweden Karlslunds IF v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
GK Aishi Manula (1995-09-13) 13 September 1995 (age 29) 64 0 Tanzania Simba v.  Mongolia; 25 March 2024
GK Beno David Kakolanya (1994-06-27) 27 June 1994 (age 30) 4 0 Tanzania Singida Fountain Gate 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
GK Metacha Mnata (1998-11-25) 25 November 1998 (age 26) 9 0 Tanzania Young Africans 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF Haji Mnoga (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 23) 13 0 England Aldershot Town v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
DF Lameck Elias Lawi (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24) 2 0 Tanzania Coastal Union v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
DF Miano van den Bos (2003-03-31) 31 March 2003 (age 22) 5 0 Spain Villena v.  Sudan; 19 May 2024
DF Kennedy Juma (1994-08-07) 7 August 1994 (age 30) 11 0 Tanzania Simba v.  Mongolia; 25 March 2024
DF Abdi Banda (1995-05-20) 20 May 1995 (age 30) 20 0 South Africa Chippa United 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
MF Morice Abraham (2003-08-13) 13 August 2003 (age 21) 10 0 Serbia Spartak Subotica v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
MF Yusuph Kagoma (1996-02-01) 1 February 1996 (age 29) 2 0 Tanzania Geita Gold v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
MF Tarryn Allarakhia (1997-11-17) 17 November 1997 (age 27) 4 0 England Rochdale v.  Sudan; 19 May 2024
MF Mzamiru Yassin (1996-01-03) 3 January 1996 (age 29) 49 0 Tanzania Simba 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
MF Sospeter Bajana (1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 (age 28) 5 1 Tanzania Azam 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
MF Ayoub Idrissa Bilali (2001-07-27) 27 July 2001 (age 23) 1 0 Bosnia and Herzegovina Goražde 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
FW Simon Msuva (1993-10-02) 2 October 1993 (age 31) 92 22 Algeria JS Kabylie v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
FW Kibu Denis (1998-12-04) 4 December 1998 (age 26) 20 0 Tanzania Simba v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
FW Charles M'Mombwa (1998-03-14) 14 March 1998 (age 27) 10 1 unattached v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
FW Abdul Hamisi Suleiman (2001-02-26) 26 February 2001 (age 24) 7 0 Tanzania Azam v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
FW Ben Starkie (2002-07-23) 23 July 2002 (age 22) 6 0 England Basford United v.  Zambia; 11 June 2024
FW Mohammed Sagaf (1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 (age 27) 3 0 England Boreham Wood v.  Sudan; 19 May 2024
FW Mbwana Samatta (captain) (1992-12-23) 23 December 1992 (age 32) 79 22 Greece PAOK 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
FW Said Khamis (2000-07-20) 20 July 2000 (age 24) 5 1 Serbia Jedinstvo Ub 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE

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

Here are some records for the Tanzania national football team players.

Players in bold are still active with Tanzania.

Most Games Played

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 Raphael 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

Top Goal Scorers

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 Raphael 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

Tournament Records

FIFA World Cup Record

Tanzania has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Here's how they've done in qualifying games:

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

Tanzania has played in the Africa Cup of Nations three times.

Main article: Tanzania at the Africa Cup of Nations
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

Tanzania has played in the African Nations Championship twice.

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

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 Record

Main article: CECAFA Cup

Team Honours

These are the awards and achievements of the Tanzania national football team.

Regional Competitions

  • 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

See also

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

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