Tanzania national football team

Tanzania
Nickname(s)	Taifa Stars
Association	Tanzania Football Federation (TFF)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	CECAFA (East & Central Africa)
Head coach	Adel Amrouche
Captain	Mbwana Samatta
Most caps	Erasto Nyoni (107)
Top scorer	Mrisho Ngasa (25)
Home stadium	National Stadium
FIFA code	TAN
FIFA ranking
Current	113 1 (18 July 2024)
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 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 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.

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.^{[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]}

Results and fixtures

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

2022

24 September Friendly	Tanzania	1–0	Uganda	Benghazi, Libya
19:00 UTC+2	Msuva 29'			Stadium: Martyrs of February Stadium

27 September Friendly	Libya	2–1	Tanzania	Benghazi, Libya
				Stadium: Martyrs of February Stadium

2023

24 March 2023 AFCON qualification	Uganda	0–1	Tanzania	Ismailia, Egypt
16:00 UTC+2		Report	Msuva 68'	Stadium: Suez Canal Stadium Referee: Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall (Mauritius)

28 March 2023 AFCON qualification	Tanzania	0–1	Uganda	Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
20:00 UTC+3		Report	Mato 90+1'	Stadium: National Stadium Referee: Ibrahim Kalilou Traore (Ivory Coast)

18 June 2023 AFCON qualification	Tanzania	1–0	Niger	Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
16:00 UTC+3	Msuva 69'	Report		Stadium: National Stadium (Tanzania) Referee: Mohamed Al Sayd (Egypt)

7 September 2023 AFCON qualification	Algeria	0–0	Tanzania	Annaba, Algeria
20:00 UTC+1		Report		Stadium: 19 May 1956 Stadium Referee: Djindo Louis Houngnandande (Benin)

November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Niger

v

Tanzania

November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Tanzania

v

Morocco

Coaches

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Bert Trautmann (1975)
Geoff Hudson (1977–1979)
Slawomir Wolk (1979–1980)^[3]
Mahammed Msomali (1980–1981)
Rudi Gutendorf (1981)
Joseph Bendera^[4] (1981-1985)
Paul West (1985-1989)^[5]
Charles Boniface Mkwasa (1989-1992)
Kayuni Dunday (1993-1995)^[6]
Clóvis de Oliveira (1995–1996)
Badru Hafidh (1996-1998)
Sylersaid Mziray (1998-1999)^[7]
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)
Kim Poulsen (2022–2023)
Adel Amrouche (2023–)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Niger on 18 June 2023.^[8]

Caps and goals correct as of 28 March 2023, after the match against Uganda.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Metacha Mnata	(1998-11-25) 25 November 1998 (age 25)	9	0	Young Africans
1GK	Beno David Kakolanya	(1994-06-27) 27 June 1994 (age 30)	1	0	Simba
1GK	Zuberi Foba Masudi	(2002-05-23) 23 May 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Azam

2DF	Bakari Mwamnyeto	(1995-10-05) 5 October 1995 (age 28)	26	0	Young Africans
2DF	Abdi Banda	(1995-05-20) 20 May 1995 (age 29)	19	0	Chippa United
2DF	Dickson Job	(2000-12-29) 29 December 2000 (age 23)	15	0	Young Africans
2DF	Novatus Miroshi	(2002-09-02) 2 September 2002 (age 21)	12	2	Shakhtar Donetsk
2DF	Kennedy Juma	(1994-08-07) 7 August 1994 (age 30)	10	0	Simba
2DF	Ally Kibwana Shomari	(2000-11-21) 21 November 2000 (age 23)	7	0	Young Africans
2DF	Ibrahim Hamad	(1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 (age 26)	0	0	Young Africans
2DF	Mohammed Hussein	(1996-11-01) 1 November 1996 (age 27)	0	0	Mwadui United
2DF	Kheir Makame Jecha	(1996-08-23) 23 August 1996 (age 27)	0	0	Kikosi Maalum Kuzuia Magendo
2DF	Lameck Elias Lawi	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23)	0	0	Coastal Union
2DF	Datius Peter	(1998-11-26) 26 November 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Kagera Sugar

3MF	Himid Mao Mkami	(1992-11-15) 15 November 1992 (age 31)	61	2	Ghazl El Mahalla
3MF	Mzamiru Yassin	(1996-01-03) 3 January 1996 (age 28)	36	0	Simba
3MF	Mudathir Yahya	(1996-05-06) 6 May 1996 (age 28)	22	0	Young Africans
3MF	Raphael Daudi	(1996-11-09) 9 November 1996 (age 27)	7	0	Ihefu
3MF	Ben Starkie	(2002-07-23) 23 July 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Basford United
3MF	Ayoub Idrissa Bilali	(2001-07-27) 27 July 2001 (age 23)	1	0	Goražde
3MF	Morice Abraham	(2003-08-13) 13 August 2003 (age 21)	1	0	Spartak Subotica
3MF	Adolf Bitegeko	(1999-02-26) 26 February 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Völsungur
4FW	George Tibar	(2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Hatta

4FW	Simon Msuva	(1993-10-02) 2 October 1993 (age 30)	84	21	JS Kabylie
4FW	Ally Samatta	(1992-12-23) 23 December 1992 (age 31)	68	22	PAOK
4FW	Denis Kibu	(1998-12-04) 4 December 1998 (age 25)	7	0	Simba
4FW	Abdul Hamisi Suleiman	(2001-02-26) 26 February 2001 (age 23)	7	0	Azam
4FW	Bernard Kamungo	(2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 22)	0	0	FC Dallas

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	Aishi Manula	(1995-09-13) 13 September 1995 (age 28)	57	0	Simba	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
GK	Saidi Kipao	(1996-12-29) 29 December 1996 (age 27)	0	0	Kagera Sugar	vs. Libya, 27 September 2022

DF	Charles Luhende	(1989-01-21) 21 January 1989 (age 35)	5	0	Kagera Sugar	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
DF	Haji Mnoga	(2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 22)	3	0	Aldershot Town	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
DF	Abdallah Mfuko	(1993-03-23) 23 March 1993 (age 31)	2	0	Kagera Sugar	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
DF	Yahya Mbegu	(2000-08-07) 7 August 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Polisi	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
DF	Oscar Masai	(2000-01-13) 13 January 2000 (age 24)	2	0	Azam	vs. Libya, 27 September 2022
DF	Abdulmalik Zakaria	(1996-03-03) 3 March 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Namungo	vs. Libya, 27 September 2022
DF	Eddy Francis	(1990-12-17) 17 December 1990 (age 33)	0	0	Shanghai Shenhua	training camp, August 2023

MF	Feisal Salum	(1998-01-11) 11 January 1998 (age 26)	31	2	Young Africans	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
MF	Anuary Jabir	(1996-11-08) 8 November 1996 (age 27)	3	0	Kagera Sugar	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
MF	Sospeter Bajana	(1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 (age 27)	1	0	Azam	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
MF	Ally Msengi	(2001-12-20) 20 December 2001 (age 22)	1	0	Moroka Swallows	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
MF	Khalid Habibu	(2001-09-10) 10 September 2001 (age 22)	0	0	KMKM	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
MF	Edmund John	(2002-12-04) 4 December 2002 (age 21)	0	0	Geita Gold	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
MF	Yusuph Kagoma	(1996-02-01) 1 February 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Geita Gold	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
MF	Ramadhani Makame	(1998-06-29) 29 June 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Bodrumspor	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
MF	David Uromi	(1999-12-31) 31 December 1999 (age 24)	1	0	Moroka Swallows	vs. Libya, 27 September 2022
MF	Mohamed Banka	(1995-12-16) 16 December 1995 (age 28)	0	0	Namungo	vs. Libya, 27 September 2022
MF	Carlos Protas	(2002-09-16) 16 September 2002 (age 21)	0	0	Tusker	vs. Libya, 27 September 2022

FW	Kelvin John	(2003-06-10) 10 June 2003 (age 21)	6	0	Genk	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
FW	Said Khamis	(2000-07-20) 20 July 2000 (age 24)	4	1	Jedinstvo Ub	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
FW	Alphonce Msanga	(2003-06-14) 14 June 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Spartak Subotica	v. Uganda, 28 March 2023
FW	Ibrahim Joshua	(1994-07-29) 29 July 1994 (age 30)	3	0	Tusker	vs. Libya, 27 September 2022
FW	Habib Kiyombo	(2000-12-21) 21 December 2000 (age 23)	3	0	Simba	vs. Libya, 27 September 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

As of 28 March 2023^[9]

Players in bold are still active with Tanzania.

Most appearances

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	Raphael Bocco	83	17	2009–present
5	Shomari Kapombe	81	1	2011–2021
5	Simon Msuva	84	21	2012–present
7	Juma Kaseja	79	0	2002–2021
8	Mbwana Samatta	71	22	2011–present
9	Himid Mao	65	2	2013–present
10	Shaban Nditi	62	2	2002–2012

Top goalscorers

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Mrisho Ngassa	25	100	0.25	2006–2015
2	Mbwana Samatta	22	71	0.31	2011–present
3	Simon Msuva	21	84	0.25	2012–present
4	Raphael Bocco	17	83	0.21	2009–present
5	John Nteze Lungu	12	22	0.55	1992–2002
6	Jerson Tegete	8	28	0.29	2006–2011
6	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

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	did not qualify								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

Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances: 2
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
as Tanganyika
1957	Not affiliated to CAF
1959
1962
1963
as Tanzania
1965	Not affiliated to CAF
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	Qualified
2025	to be determined
2027	Qualified as hosts
Total	Group stage	4/36	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

Football at the African Games
Year	Result	M	W	D	L	GF	GA
1973	7th	3	0	0	3	3	7
Total	1/4

Gossage Cup / CECAFA Cup

Head-to-head record

Honours

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

References

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^ "Brother Danny: Taifa Stars Ilivyofuzu Kwenda Lagos 1980". brotherdanny5b.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
^ "International Matches 1987 - Africa". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
^ "International Matches 1992 - Africa". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
^ "International Matches 1993 - Africa". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
^ "International Matches 1998 - Africa". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
^ "Kikosi cha Tanzania kinachocheza mchezo wa kufuzu AFCON 2023 dhidi ya Niger". Twitter. TFF Tanzania. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
^ "Tanzania". National Football Teams.

External links

Tanzania at CAF
Tanzania at FIFA

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-2] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.

[3] "Brother Danny: Taifa Stars Ilivyofuzu Kwenda Lagos 1980". brotherdanny5b.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2022.

[4] "International Matches 1987 - Africa". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

[5] "International Matches 1992 - Africa". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

[6] "International Matches 1993 - Africa". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

[7] "International Matches 1998 - Africa". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

[8] "Kikosi cha Tanzania kinachocheza mchezo wa kufuzu AFCON 2023 dhidi ya Niger". Twitter. TFF Tanzania. Retrieved 18 June 2023.

[9] "Tanzania". National Football Teams.

[1]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

v t e Tanzania national football team
General	Tanzania Football Federation History Managers Achievements Records Results
Stadiums	Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
Players	Squad Player category
Africa Cup of Nations	Summary 1980 2019 2023
Other tournaments	CECAFA Cup
Other Tanzanian teams	U-23 U-20 U-17 Women U-20 U-17

v t e National and regional football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar¹
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion¹
¹ Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA Football in Africa portal

v t e Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations
CAF FIFA
International Competitions	CECAFA Senior Championship CECAFA U-20 Championship CECAFA U-17 Championship CECAFA U-15 Championship CECAFA Women's Championship CECAFA Women's U-20 Championship CECAFA Women's U-17 Championship
Club Competitions	CECAFA Club Cup CECAFA Nile Basin Cup
Current members	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar
National Teams	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar
Football in Africa portal