Stars face challenging task in Fifa World Cup qualifiers

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s national senior football team (Taifa Stars) will have to stretch their muscles in order to qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Taifa Stars are drawn in group E along with Morocco, Zambia, Congo Brazzaville, Niger and Eritrea following a draw conducted last Thursday.

The top team from each group will qualify for the finals while runners-up will feature in playoffs from which the winners will enter the 2026 World Cup finals.

Morocco are placed 13th in the Fifa rankings released on June 29, while Zambia are 84th and Congo Brazzaville are 106th. Tanzania are ranked 123th, Niger (128th) while Eritrea are ranked 198th.

 However, Tanzania can defy the odds if they are to prepare well ahead of the prestigious football tournament of the world.

Former U-15 national football team head coach Abel Mtweve said nothing is impossible in the world, expressing that what is needed is for Stars to prepare well. He said Tanzania can record the best results in the group stage and secure the chance of competing in the finals.

“We need to prepare well as November is just around the corner. Stars technical bench staff need to choose the best players, who can make history for the country by playing in the World Cup for the first time,” said Mtweve.

Records show that Morocco are the first African country to reach the World Cup semi-finals after making it last year in Qatar before losing to France to finish fourth.

The north African country have played four matches against Tanzania since 2010 and the former won two games with a total of five goals while Tanzania have won one game with four goals in total as one match ended in a barren draw.

Also, Tanzania have played six matches against Zambia since 2009, winning one match against two won by Zambia.

Stars will also face Congo Brazzaville for the first time since 1967 when they lost 6-1 on May 31 and on July 5, 1975 Taifa Stars won 2-1 and later on June 7, 1975, Tanzania won 1-0. All were friendly matches.

So, Tanzania will take on Congo Brazzaville for the first time in the international competitions.

Tanzania also have a good record against Eritrea internationally.