Zanzibar national football team Facts for Kids

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

Quick facts for kids
Zanzibar

Association

Zanzibar Football Federation

Confederation

CAF (Africa)

Sub-confederation

CECAFA
(Central & East Africa)

Head coach

Hababuu Ali Omar

Most caps

Suleiman Selembe (32)

Top scorer

Abdallah Juma Ally (9)

Home stadium

Amaan Stadium

FIFA code

ZAN

First colours

Second colours

Elo ranking

Current

112

5 (3 March 2019)

Highest

90 (1947)

Lowest

171 (November 1992)

First international

Tanganyika 3–1 Zanzibar

(Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika; 18 September 1947)

Biggest win

Unofficial

Zanzibar 6–0 Raetia

(Arbil, Iraq; 4 June 2012)
Official

Zanzibar 4–0 Burundi

(Mumias, Kenya; 29 November 2009)

Biggest defeat

Kenya 10–0 Zanzibar

(Nairobi, Kenya; 4 October 1961)

VIVA World Cup

Appearances

1 (first in 2012)

Best result

Third place (2012)

CECAFA Cup

Appearances

58 (first in 1947)

Best result

Champions (1995)

FIFI Wild Cup/ELF Cup

Appearances

2 (first in 2006)

Best result

FIFI Wild Cup: Runners-up
(2006)
ELF Cup: Fourth place
(2006)

The Zanzibar national football team plays international football for Zanzibar. The Zanzibar Football Federation controls the team.

History of Zanzibar Football
Recent Matches
- 2025 Match Results
Coaches of the Team
Key Players and Records
- Most Games Played
- Top Goal Scorers
Tournament History
Team Honours and Trophies
- Regional Titles
- Non-FIFA Competition Wins
See also

History of Zanzibar Football

Zanzibar is not a member of FIFA, the world football governing body. This means they cannot play in the World Cup. Zanzibar is part of the country United Republic of Tanzania, which is recognized by FIFA. Before Zanzibar and Tanganyika joined together in 1964, Zanzibar was a full member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, they never played in the African Nations Cup.

Early Tournaments and Achievements

Zanzibar was a temporary member of the N.F.-Board, an organization for teams not in FIFA. In 2006, they came in second place in the 2006 FIFI Wild Cup tournament. They lost the final match 4–1 in a penalty shootout to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. A German comedian named Oliver Pocher was their coach for that tournament.

Their Under-20 team also played in the 2006 ELF Cup. They finished fourth out of eight teams. They won one game (1–0 against Kyrgyzstan) and had two draws. They lost 5–0 to Northern Cyprus in the semifinal.

CECAFA Cup Success

The team often plays in the CECAFA Cup. This cup includes national teams from Central and East Africa. In 1995, Zanzibar became champions of the CECAFA Cup. They won the final match 1–0 against the host country, Uganda.

CAF Membership and Recent Wins

In March 2017, Zanzibar was accepted into CAF, becoming its 55th member. This meant they could play in the Africa Cup of Nations. But their membership was taken back four months later. The CAF president said that Zanzibar should not have been admitted because it is not a fully independent country.

Zanzibar won their first international trophy, the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup, in January 2025. They beat Burkina Faso 2–1 in the final match.

Recent Matches

2025 Match Results

Zanzibar played in the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup in January 2025. They won the final match.

13 January 2025 2025 Mapinduzi Cup F	Zanzibar	2–1	Burkina Faso	Tanzania
17:15	Hilika 41' Cheda 90+2'		74' Traore	Stadium: Gombami Stadium

Coaches of the Team

Here are some of the coaches who have led the Zanzibar national football team:

Gheorghe Dungu (1972–1974)
Oliver Pocher (2005–2006)
Abdel-Fattah Abbas (2006–2008)
Souleymane Sané (2008–2011)
Stewart Hall (2010)
Hemed "Morocco" Suleiman (2017–2021)
Hababuu Ali Omar (2021–present)

Key Players and Records

Most Games Played

These players have played the most matches for Zanzibar.

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Suleiman Selembe	32	5	2009–2019
2	Aggrey Morris	30	6	2004–2012
3	Nadir Haroub	28	1	2005–2015
4	Abdulghani Gulam Abdallah	18	1	2009–2012
4	Khamis Mcha Khamis	18	5	2007–2015
6	Ally Mwadini	17	0	2009–2015
7	Soud Abdallah Juma	14	1	2002–2007
7	Abdi Kassim	14	2	2002–2010
9	Abdallah Juma Ally	13	9	2002–2007
10	Issa Haidar Dau	11	0	2015–present
	Mwinyi Mngwali	11	0	2015–present
	Waziri Omar	11	0	2009–2013
	Nassor Said	11	0	2009–2013
	Mudathir Yahya	11	1	2015–present

Top Goal Scorers

These players have scored the most goals for Zanzibar.

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Abdallah Juma Ally	9	13	0.69	2002–2007
2	Aggrey Morris	6	30	0.2	2004–2012
3	Khamis Mcha Khamis	5	18	0.28	2007–2015
3	Suleiman Selembe	5	32	0.16	2009–2019
5	Alek Mohammed	2	1	2	2006
	Ali Shiboli	2	2	1	2010
	Kassim Suleiman Khamis	2	3	0.67	2017–present
	Ahmed Ali Mkweche	2	4	0.5	2005–2007
	Khamis Mussa Makame	2	7	0.29	2017–present
	Salum Ussi	2	7	0.29	2002–2006
	Mohammed Juma	2	8	0.25	2017–present
	Abdulaziz Makame	2	9	0.22	2017–present
	Abdi Kassim	2	14	0.14	2002–2010

Tournament History

CECAFA Cup Performance

Zanzibar has a long history in the CECAFA Cup, which used to be called the Gossage Cup. They won the tournament once in 1995. They also finished as runners-up in 2017 and took third place several times.

Africa Cup of Nations Eligibility

Zanzibar was briefly allowed to join the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2017. This would have made them able to play in the Africa Cup of Nations. However, this decision was changed because FIFA rules do not allow two teams from the same country to be members.

Non-FIFA Tournaments Played

Zanzibar has also played in special football tournaments for teams not recognized by FIFA.

World Tournaments Record

World tournaments record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
FIFI Wild Cup and ELF Cup
2006	Runners-up	2nd	4	2	1	1	7	6
2006	Fourth place	4th	5	1	3	1	5	9
VIVA World Cup
2006	Did not enter
2008
2009
2010
2012	Third Place	3rd	4	3	0	1	16	4
CONIFA World Football Cup
2014	Withdrew
2016	Did not enter
2018	Did not enter
Total	Third Place	3/10	13	6	4	3	28	19