Samatta, Msuva dropped from Stars squad for AFCON matches
Prominent Tanzania players, Mbwana Samatta (right) and Simon Msuva during the past national football team (Taifa Stars) match. The two players will not be part of the team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers matches against Ethiopia and Guinea due to technical reasons. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Taifa Stars, placed in Group H, will face Ethiopia on September 4 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium at 7pm, and then Guinea on September 10 at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, at 10pm East Africa time.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's national football team coach, Hemed "Morocco" Suleiman, has announced a 23-player squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, notably excluding prominent players Mbwana Samatta and Simon Msuva.
Taifa Stars, placed in Group H, will face Ethiopia on September 4 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium at 7pm, and then Guinea on September 10 at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, at 10pm East Africa time.
The 2025 AFCON finals are scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 28, 2026.
This marks the second time Samatta has been left out of the Taifa Stars squad since the team participated in the AFCON finals held in Ivory Coast. For Msuva, this is the first time he has missed a call-up.
Morocco has reinstated Yanga’s central defender, Dickson Job, who was previously dropped ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Zambia.
Speaking yesterday, Morocco stated that the two players were excluded for technical reasons but emphasized that they remain part of the team.
"Before announcing the squad, I spoke with both players and discussed various matters.
We agreed on everything, and they remain Taifa Stars players like anyone else," said Morocco.
He explained that Msuva has not yet signed with a new team for the upcoming season.
"How can you call a player who is currently focused on securing his future contract? He wouldn't be fully concentrated on the team.
So, let him handle his matters first," Morocco added. Regarding Job, Morocco said he was reinstated due to his current performance, with no other reasons involved.
The squad includes goalkeepers Ally Salim (Simba), Aboutwalib Mshery (Yanga), and Pamba’s Yona Amos, who was named man of the match in a Mainland Premier League game against Prisons that ended in a goalless draw.
Other players called up to the squad are Lusajo Mwaikenda, Nathaniel Chilambo, Pascal Msindo (Azam FC), Ibrahim Hamad Bacca, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Dickson Kibabage (Yanga), Abdulmalick Zacharia (Mashujaa), Adolf Mtasigwa (Azam FC), and Mohammed Hussein (Simba). The list also includes Himid Mao (Talaal El Geish, Egypt), Novatus Dismas (Goztepe, Turkey), Mudathir Yahaya (Yanga), Hussein Semfuko (Coastal Union), Edwin Balua (Simba), Feisal Salum ‘Fei Toto’ (Azam FC), Wazir Junior (Dodoma Jiji), Cyprian Kachwel (Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada), Clement Mzize (Yanga), and Abel Josiah from TDS TFF Academy
