Taifa Stars to camp in Egypt ahead of Uganda duel

National football team (Taifa Stars) head coach Adel Amrouche during the past assignment. PHOTO | COURTESY

By  The Citizen Reporter

Media/news company

Mwananchi Communications Limited

What you need to know:

  • Taifa Stars and Uganda will play in Ismailia, Egypt, on March 24 following the decision of the hosts country (Uganda) to choose the venue after the African football governing body (CAF) banned Uganda’s stadiums

Dar es Salaam. The national football team (Taifa Stars) will camp in Egypt ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) group F qualifier against Uganda’s The Cranes.

Taifa Stars and Uganda will play in Ismailia, Egypt, on March 24 following the decision of the hosts country (Uganda) to choose the venue after the African football governing body (CAF) banned Uganda’s stadiums.

Due to that, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) opted the team to camp in Egypt ahead of the encounter. The two teams will meet again on March 28 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Speaking with The Citizen yesterday, TFF Media and Communication Officer Clifford Ndimbo said Taifa Stars players will leave for Cairo in two butches.

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The first butch will not comprise Young Africans (Yanga) players, who will be in the CAF Confederation Cup assignment against Tunisian side US Monastir tomorrow.

Ndimbo said other players featuring in the Mainland Tanzania Premier League will leave the country tomorrow while foreign based players will connect direct to the destination. The team are under head coach Algerian Adel Amrouche who selected 31 players. Among the players is Yanga’s Feisal Salum alias Fei Toto, who is now out of competitive football since December last year wanting to leave the club.

Players selected to form a provisional squad are Aishi Manula, Beno Kakolanya, Mzamiru Yassin (Simba), Metacha Mnata, Kibwana Shomari, Dickson Job, Ibrahim Baka, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Mudathir Yahya, Salum Abubakari and Feisal Salum who are from Yanga.

Others are Datius Peter, Abdallah Mfuko, Anuary Jabir, David Luhende (Kagera Sugar), Yahya Mbegu ( Ihefu FC), Sospeter Bajana, Abdul Suleiman (Azam FC), Yusuph Kagoma (Singida Big Stars), Edmund John (Geita Gold FC), Khalid Habibu (KMKM) and Ramadhan Makame, who plays for Bodrumspor in Turkey.

Also, on the list are Simon Msuva (Al-Qadsiar, Saudi Arabia), Mbwana Samatta, Kelvin John (KRC Genk, Belgium), Novatus Dismass (Zuite Waregen, Belgium), Alphonce Mabula (FK Spartak Subotica, Serbia) and Ben Starkie (Basford United, England).

Others are Haji Mnoga (Aldershot Town, England), Ally Msengi (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Himid Mao (Ghazl El Mahalla, Egypt) and Saidi Khamis, who plays for Al Fujairah of the United Arab Emirates.

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