Taifa Stars to take on Egypt in Afcon build-up

Dar es Salaam. The national football team (Taifa Stars) will play an international build-up match against Egypt before competing in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals scheduled to take place next year in Abijan, Ivory Coast.

Taifa Stars are expected to leave this morning for Cairo, Egypt, for residential camp, according to Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Information Officer Clifford Ndimbo.

Ndimbo said they have requested several countries to play build-up matches, but so far Taifa Stars will play against Egypt on January 7 next year at the venue to be named later.

He said all preparations ahead of the trip are complete and the trip will involve 27 players and officials.

He said the names of players will be made public by the team’s head coach, Adel Amrouche, before departure.

“Currently, most of players are in residential camp in Zanzibar. The team will return to Dar es Salaam tomorrow (today) and later connect to Cairo, Egypt.

“I cannot name the players bacause I am yet to be given by the technical bench, let’s wait,” said Ndimbo.

A total of 53 players are forming the provisional squad including Metacha Mnatha, Abutwalib Mshely, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Ibrahim Abdallah (Bacca), Clement Kibabage, Dickson Job, Mudathir Yahya, Clement Mzize (all from Yanga), Aishi Manula, Mohammed Hussein, Kennedy Juma, Mzamiru Yassin (Simba), Lusajo Mwaikenda, Sospeter Bajana, Feisal Salum, and Abdul Suleiman Sopu, all from Azam FC. Others are Beno Kakolanya, Yusuph Kagoma (Singida Fountain Gate FC), Matheo Anthony, Ladaki Chasambi (Mtibwa Sugar), Edwin Balua (Tanzania Prisons), Lameck Lawi (Coastal Union) and Abdulmalik Zakaria from Namungo FC.

Also, on the list are Kwesi Kawawa (Karlslunds, Sweden), Haji Mnoga (Aldershot Tow, England), Abdi Banda (Richardson Bay, South Africa), Novatus Dismas (Shakhtar Donesk, Ukraine), Adam Kasa (IFK Haninge, Sweden), Roberto Nditi (Forfar Athletic of Scotland), Zion Nditi (Aldershot Town, England), Miano Danilo (Vilena, Spain), Mark John (Kingston FC, Australia), Himid Mao (Taka’ea El Gaish, Egypt), Adolf Bitegeko (Volsungir, Iceland), Baraka Majogoro (Chippa United, South Africa), Mohammed Al Omar (Boreham Wood, England), Twaliq Abdillahi (Telford United, England), Morice Abraham (RFK Novi, Serbia), Khleffin Hamdoun (Muscat Club, Oman), Saidi Hamis (Jedinstov UB, Serbia and Tarryan Allarakhia from Wealdstone of England.

There are also Cyprian Kachwele from Vancouver FC of Canada, Amahi Pellegrino (Bode/Glint, Norway), Ayoub Bilal (free agent), Ben Starkie (Likeston Town, England), Mbwana Samatta (Paokm Solanika, Greece), Charles M’mombwa (Macarthur FC, Australia), Adam Salamba (ly Stade Club, Libya), Simon Msuva (Js Kabylie, Algeria), Omary Mvungi (FC Nantes, France) and Ibrahim Joshua from Tusker FC of Kenya.

Stars have been drawn in group F together with Morocco, DR Congo and Zambia. Their opening match will be held on January 17 against Morocco at the San-Pedro Stadium.