Taifa Stars to camp in Egypt ahead of CHAN showdown
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s national senior team, Taifa Stars, will depart the country this Sunday for a high-intensity training camp in Cairo, Egypt, as part of their final preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The tournament is set to kick off on August 2, with Tanzania Mainland playing a key role as one of the three co-hosts alongside Uganda and Kenya.
The team, under the stewardship of head coach Hemed "Morocco" Suleiman, will use the Cairo camp to sharpen tactics, build chemistry, and adapt to competitive conditions ahead of their Group B campaign.
The Stars will launch their CHAN journey with a blockbuster opening match against Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, which will also double as the tournament’s official opening ceremony. Coach Hemed has named a 30-man squad composed entirely of home-based players, in line with CHAN regulations. The squad boasts depth and experience drawn from domestic giants Simba SC, Young Africans, Azam FC, and other competitive Premier League sides.
In goal, Taifa Stars will rely on the seasoned hands of Aishi Manula (Simba SC), alongside Hussein Masalanga (Singida BS), and Yakoub Suleiman (JKT Tanzania), forming a solid goalkeeping unit. The defensive line includes versatile players such as Shomari Kapombe, Mohamed Hussein, Yusuph Kagoma, and Kibu Denis, all from Simba SC.
They are joined by Lusajo Mwaikenda, Paschal Msindo, and Nassor Saadun from Azam FC, alongside Wilson Nangu (JKT Tanzania), Lameck Lawi (Coastal Union), and promising youngster Vedastus Masinde from U20 Ngorongoro Heroes/TMA.
The midfield is a blend of creativity, strength, and agility with stars like Dickson Job, Mudathir Yahya, and Clement Mzize from Young Africans. Ahmed Pipino, Jammy Simba, Sheikhan Khamis, and Mishano Michael represent the vibrant youth pipeline of U20 Ngorongoro Heroes, with Pipino and Jammy currently attached to KMC. Others in the midfield include Ibrahim Hamad (Young Africans), Iddy Selemani and Feisal Salum from Azam FC, Sabry Kondo (Coastal Union), and the ever-reliable Abdulrazack Mohamed (Simba SC).
The striking force will feature Ibrahim Hamad of Tabora United, complemented by Abdul Suleiman (Azam FC), aiming to break through the defensive lines of Africa’s top sides.
Taifa Stars find themselves in a competitive Group B that includes Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic, with all matches to be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Group D, set for the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar, will host Senegal, Congo, Sudan, and Nigeria, while Group A—staged in Nairobi, Kenya—includes the hosts Kenya, along with Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia.
Group C will be contested in Kampala, Uganda, featuring the host nation, Uganda, as well as Niger, Guinea, South Africa, and Algeria.Gerson Msigwa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, and also the Chief Government Spokesperson, confirmed that Tanzania’s preparations are complete.
