Taifa Stars set up camp ahead of AFCON

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's national football team, Taifa Stars, have begun training ahead of their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Ethiopia and Guinea.

Taifa Stars,, drawn in Group H, will face Ethiopia on September 4 at 7pm at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Their next match is against Guinea on September 10 at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, kicking off at 10pm East African time.

The 2025 AFCON finals are scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 28, 2026.

Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, head coach Hemed "Morocco" Suleiman said initial training did not engage players from Young Africans (Yanga) and Coastal Union, including some foreign-based clubs.

Suleiman noted that several Yanga players, including Aboutwalib Mshery, Ibrahim Hamad Bacca, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Dickson Kibabage, Mudathir Yahaya, and Clement Mzize, missed out on the training due to their Tanzania Mainland Premier League commitments.

Additionally, Hussein Semfuko of Coastal Union was unavailable as his team was facing Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC) in the league.

"Yanga and Coastal Union players, including those based abroad will join the team this Saturday," Suleiman explained.

"However, Himid Mao, who plays for Talaal El Geish in Egypt, has already reported to the camp."

Those yet to report are Cyprian Kachwele of Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada and Novatus Dismas of Goztepe, Turkey.

Players currently in camp are Ally Salim from Simba, Yona Amos (Pamba Jiji FC), Lusajo Mwaikenda, Nathaniel Chilambo, Pascal Msindo, Adolf Mtasigwa, Feisal Salum (Azam FC), and Abdulmalick Zacharia of Mashujaa FC.

Others are Mohammed Hussein, Edwin Balua (Simba), Wazir Junior (Dodoma Jiji), and Abel Josiah from the TDS TFF Academy.