Samatta admits Taifa Stars in tough group
What you need to know:
- Taifa Stars, who are in Group F alongside Morocco, DR Congo, and Zambia, will play their first game on January 17 against Morocco at the San-Pedro Stadium.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania national football team (Taifa Stars) captain Mbwana Samatta has admitted the team is in a challenging group and will have to work hard to qualify for the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Taifa Stars, who are in Group F alongside Morocco, DR Congo, and Zambia, will play their first game on January 17 against Morocco at the San-Pedro Stadium.
Samatta, who joined the team's training camp Thursday in Cairo, Egypt, said their main task, as players, will be to play with determination, noting that in football anything can happen.
He said the team's technical bench have carefully selected players, who, they believe, will enhance the team's performance in the competition.
"We are also targeting the best results in the competition. We need to respect our opponents in the group, but we will fight for the nation's pride during the competition," said Samatta in the team’s residential camp in Cairo, Egypt.
Besides Samatta, who plays for Paokm Solanika of Greece, the team comprises 30 other players.
According to Taifa Stars assistant coach Hemed Morocco, the team’s goalkeepers are Aishi Manula (Simba), Metacha Mnata (Young Africans), Kwesi Kawawa (Karlslunds, Sweden), and Beno Kakolanya from Singida Fountain Gate FC.
Defenders: Mohammed Hussein (Simba), Ibrahim Hamadi Bacca (Young Africans), Dickson Job (Young Africans), Bakari Mwamnyeto (Young Africans), and Novatus Dismas (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Lusajo Mwaikenda (Azam FC), Miano Danilo (Vilena, Spain), Abdulmalik Zakaria (Namungo), Haji Mnoga (Aldershot Town, England), and Abdi Banda, who plays for Richardson Bay of South Africa.
Midfielders: Sospeter Bajana (Azam FC), Feisal Salum (Azam FC), Mzamiru Yasin (Simba), Mudathir Yahaya (Young Africans), Twaliq Abdillahi (Telford United, England), and Morice Abraham (RFK Novi, Serbia), Khleffin Hamdoun (Muscat Club, Oman), Himid Mao (Taka’ea El Gaish, Egypt), Tarryn Allarakhia (Wealdstone, England), and Mohammed Ali Omar of Borenham Wood, England.
Strikers: Ben Starkie (Likeston Town, England), Abdul Suleiman Sopu (Azam FC), Cyprian Kachwele (Vancouver FC, Canada), Charles M’mombwa (Macarthur FC, Australia), and Saimon Msuva, who plays for JS Kabylie of Algeria.
The provisional squad of 31 players will be trimmed to 27 in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at the Afcon finals.
