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	National Stadium
FIFA code	TAN
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	119 2 (15 February 2024)[1]
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, 2019, 2023)

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.

Tanzania is currently ranked 121st in the FIFA World Rankings.^[3]

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]}

Coaching staff

Head coach	Hemed Morocco
Assistant coach	Juma Munga
Assistant coach	Hemed Suleiman Ali
Assistant coach	Dr. Carolin Braun
Goalkeeper coach	Osama Al-Hamdan
Physical coach	Mikael Mayoyo
Sports therapist	Joris De Vos
Head of medical	Lisobine Kisongo
Team manager	Reinhard

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

2023

Uganda  v  Tanzania

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)

Tanzania  v  Uganda

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)

Tanzania  v  Niger

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)

Algeria  v  Tanzania

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)

Sudan  v  Tanzania

15 October Friendly	Sudan	1–1	Tanzania	Taif, Saudi Arabia
19:00 UTC+3	Musab	Report	Bajana	Stadium: King Fahd Sports City

Niger  v  Tanzania

18 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Niger	0–1	Tanzania	Marrakesh, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1		Report	M'Mombwa 56'	Stadium: Stade de Marrakech Attendance: 178 Referee: Lotfi Bekouassa (Algeria)

Tanzania  v  Morocco

21 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Tanzania	0–2	Morocco	Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
19:00 UTC+3		Report	Ziyech 28' Mwamnyeto 54' (o.g.)	Stadium: Benjamin Mkapa (National Stadium) Attendance: 60,000 Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)

Zanzibar  v  Tanzania

27 December Friendly

Zanzibar

0–0

Tanzania

2024

Egypt  v  Tanzania

7 January Friendly	Egypt	2–0	Tanzania	Cairo, Egypt
18:00 UTC+2	Trézéguet 32' Manula 73' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Cairo International Stadium Referee: Hashem Al-Ibrahim (Kuwait)

Morocco  v  Tanzania

17 January 2023 AFCON GS	Morocco	3–0	Tanzania	San Pédro, Ivory Coast
				Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium

Zambia  v  Tanzania

21 January 2023 AFCON GS	Zambia	1–1	Tanzania	San Pédro, Ivory Coast
				Stadium: Laurent Pokou Stadium

Tanzania  v  DR Congo

24 January 2023 AFCON GS	Tanzania	0–0	DR Congo	Korhogo, Ivory Coast
				Stadium: Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium

Bulgaria  v  Tanzania

22 March 2024 FIFA World Series	Bulgaria	v	Tanzania	Baku, Azerbaijan
17:00 UTC+4				Stadium: Dalga Arena

Mongolia  v  Tanzania

25 March 2024 FIFA World Series	Mongolia	v	Tanzania	Baku, Azerbaijan
17:00 UTC+4				Stadium: Dalga Arena

Coaches

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

The following 27 players were called up for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.^[9]

Caps and goals correct as of 7 January 2024, after the match against Egypt.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Kwesi Kawawa	(2001-12-05) 5 December 2001 (age 22)	1	0	Karlslunds IF
13	1GK	Beno David Kakolanya	(1994-06-27) 27 June 1994 (age 29)	4	0	Singida Fountain Gate
18	1GK	Aishi Manula	(1995-09-13) 13 September 1995 (age 28)	60	0	Simba
2	2DF	Haji Mnoga	(2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 21)	8	0	Aldershot Town
4	2DF	Ibrahim Hamad	(1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 (age 26)	8	0	Young Africans
5	2DF	Dickson Job	(2000-12-29) 29 December 2000 (age 23)	23	1	Young Africans
14	2DF	Bakari Mwamnyeto	(1995-10-05) 5 October 1995 (age 28)	37	0	Young Africans
15	2DF	Mohamed Husseini	(1996-11-01) 1 November 1996 (age 27)	38	0	Simba
16	2DF	Lusajo Mwaikenda	(2000-10-27) 27 October 2000 (age 23)	5	0	Azam
20	2DF	Novatus Miroshi	(2002-09-02) 2 September 2002 (age 21)	18	2	Shakhtar Donetsk
24	2DF	Abdi Banda	(1995-05-20) 20 May 1995 (age 28)	20	0	Chippa United
25	2DF	Abdulmalik Zakaria	(1996-03-03) 3 March 1996 (age 27)	0	0	Namungo
26	2DF	Miano Danilo	(2003-03-31) 31 March 2003 (age 20)	0	0	Villena
3	3MF	Mudathir Yahya	(1996-05-06) 6 May 1996 (age 27)	28	0	Young Africans
6	3MF	Feisal Salum	(1998-01-11) 11 January 1998 (age 26)	33	2	Azam
7	3MF	Himid Mao	(1992-11-15) 15 November 1992 (age 31)	70	2	Ghazl El Mahalla
8	3MF	Morice Abraham	(2003-08-13) 13 August 2003 (age 20)	3	0	Spartak Subotica
11	3MF	Tarryn Allarakhia	(1997-11-17) 17 November 1997 (age 26)	1	0	Wealdstone
17	3MF	Sospeter Bajana	(1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 (age 27)	5	1	Azam
19	3MF	Mzamiru Yassin	(1996-01-03) 3 January 1996 (age 28)	47	0	Simba
9	4FW	Cyprian Kachwele	(2005-02-15) 15 February 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Whitecaps 2
10	4FW	Mbwana Samatta (captain)	(1992-12-23) 23 December 1992 (age 31)	76	22	PAOK
12	4FW	Simon Msuva	(1993-10-02) 2 October 1993 (age 30)	88	21	JS Kabylie
21	4FW	Charles M'Mombwa	(1998-03-14) 14 March 1998 (age 25)	3	1	Macarthur FC
22	4FW	Kibu Denis	(1998-12-04) 4 December 1998 (age 25)	17	0	Simba
23	4FW	Ben Starkie	(2002-07-23) 23 July 2002 (age 21)	3	0	Basford United
27	4FW	Mohammed Sagaf	(1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 (age 26)	1	0	Boreham Wood

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 25)	9	0	Young Africans	2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
GK	Zuberi Foba Masudi	(2002-05-23) 23 May 2002 (age 21)	0	0	Azam	v.  Niger, 18 June 2023
DF	Kennedy Juma	(1994-08-07) 7 August 1994 (age 29)	10	0	Simba	2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF	Lameck Elias Lawi	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23)	0	0	Coastal Union	2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF	Ally Kibwana Shomari	(2000-11-21) 21 November 2000 (age 23)	7	0	Young Africans	v.  Niger, 18 June 2023
DF	Kheir Makame Jecha	(1996-08-23) 23 August 1996 (age 27)	0	0	Kikosi Maalum Kuzuia Magendo	v.  Niger, 18 June 2023
DF	Datius Peter	(1998-11-26) 26 November 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Kagera Sugar	v.  Niger, 18 June 2023
DF	Shomari Kapombe	(1992-01-28) 28 January 1992 (age 32)	82	1	Simba	v.  Uganda, 28 March 2023
DF	Charles Luhende	(1989-01-21) 21 January 1989 (age 35)	5	0	Kagera Sugar	v.  Uganda, 28 March 2023
DF	Abdallah Mfuko	(1993-03-23) 23 March 1993 (age 30)	2	0	Kagera Sugar	v.  Uganda, 28 March 2023
DF	Yahya Mbegu	(2000-08-07) 7 August 2000 (age 23)	0	0	Polisi	v.  Uganda, 28 March 2023
MF	Ayoub Idrissa Bilali	(2001-07-27) 27 July 2001 (age 22)	1	0	Goražde	2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
MF	Adolf Bitegeko	(1999-02-26) 26 February 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Völsungur	2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
MF	Yusuph Kagoma	(1996-02-01) 1 February 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Geita Gold	2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
MF	Raphael Daudi	(1996-11-09) 9 November 1996 (age 27)	7	0	Ihefu	v.  Niger, 18 June 2023
MF	Anuary Jabir	(1996-11-08) 8 November 1996 (age 27)	3	0	Kagera Sugar	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	Ramadhani Makame	(1998-06-29) 29 June 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Bodrumspor	v.  Uganda, 28 March 2023
FW	Abdul Hamisi Suleiman	(2001-02-26) 26 February 2001 (age 23)	7	0	Azam	2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
FW	Said Khamis	(2000-07-20) 20 July 2000 (age 23)	5	1	Jedinstvo Ub	2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
FW	Raphael Bocco	(1989-08-05) 5 August 1989 (age 34)	84	16	Simba	v.  Algeria, 7 September 2023
FW	George Tibar	(2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 24)	1	0	Hatta	v.  Niger, 18 June 2023
FW	Bernard Kamungo	(2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 22)	0	0	FC Dallas	v.  Niger, 18 June 2023
FW	Kelvin John	(2003-06-10) 10 June 2003 (age 20)	6	0	Genk	v.  Uganda, 28 March 2023
FW	Alphonce Msanga	(2003-06-14) 14 June 2003 (age 20)	0	0	Spartak Subotica	v.  Uganda, 28 March 2023
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 21 November 2023^[10]

Players in bold are still active with Tanzania.

Most appearances

Top goalscorers

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									1	1	0	0	1	0
2030										to be determined
2034
Total		0/25								42	12	12	18	44	60

Africa Cup of Nations record

Africa Cup of Nations										Africa Cup of Nations 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
1957	Not affiliated to CAF									Not affiliated to CAF
1959
1962
1963
as  Tanzania										as  Tanzania
1965	Not affiliated to CAF									Not affiliated to CAF
1968	Withdrew during qualifying									Withdrew during qualifying
1970	Did not qualify									4	1	1	2	3	10
1972										2	0	1	1	2	6
1974										4	1	2	1	5	3
1976										2	0	1	1	3	6
1978	Withdrew during qualifying									Withdrew during qualifying
1980	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	3	6		4	2	1	1	8	4
1982	Withdrew									Withdrew
1984	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	3	4
1986	Withdrew during qualifying									Withdrew during qualifying
1988	Did not qualify									3	0	1	2	3	6
1990										2	0	2	0	2	2
1992										6	1	2	3	4	7
1994	Withdrew during qualifying									Withdrew during qualifying
1996	Did not qualify									10	4	0	6	14	15
1998										6	1	2	3	5	7
2000										2	0	0	2	0	2
2002										2	0	0	2	2	4
2004	Withdrew during qualifying									Withdrew during qualifying
2006	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	0	3
2008										6	2	2	2	4	7
2010										2	2	2	2	9	6
2012										6	1	2	3	6	9
2013										2	0	2	0	2	2
2015										4	1	2	1	6	6
2017										4	0	1	3	0	6
2019	Group stage	24th	3	0	0	3	2	8		6	2	2	2	6	5
2021	Did not qualify									6	2	1	3	5	6
2023	Group stage	22nd	3	0	2	1	1	4		6	2	2	2	3	4
2025	To be determined									To be determined
2027	Qualified as hosts									Qualified as hosts
Total	Group stage	4/36	9	0	3	6	6	18		93	22	31	40	95	130

African Nations Championship record

African Nations Championship										African Nations Championship Qualification Record
Appearances: 2										Appearances: 7
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2009	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	2	2		6	4	1	1	10	4
2011	Did not qualify									3	1	1	1	7	2
2014										2	0	0	2	1	4
2016										2	0	1	1	1	4
2018										2	0	2	0	1	1
2020	Group stage	10th	3	1	1	1	3	4		4	1	2	1	2	2
2022	Did not qualify									4	2	0	2	3	5
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

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

Gossage Cup / CECAFA Cup

Honours

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