Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s national futsal team left the country yesterday for Cairo, Egypt, where they will play two international friendly matches against the hosts as part of preparations for their historic appearance at the 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The matches against Egypt will provide coach Curtis Darrel Reid with an important opportunity to assess his squad against one of Africa’s most established futsal nations before Tanzania make their continental finals debut.
Tanzania were drawn in Group B alongside three-time champions Egypt, Angola and Mozambique at Monday’s final draw in Morocco. The tournament will be staged from October 12 to 21, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semi-finals.
The group presents a major challenge for Tanzania, particularly against Egypt, who have won the continental title three times and are among Africa’s most experienced futsal sides.
Angola and Mozambique also have a strong history in the competition, meaning Tanzania will face three established opponents in their first appearance at the finals.
The trip to Cairo follows earlier preparations that included two friendly matches against Zambia in July. The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) said those matches were part of the team's build-up to the AFCON finals.
Tanzania secured their place in Morocco after eliminating Côte d’Ivoire 9-7 on aggregate in the final qualifying round under Reid. The achievement marked a significant milestone for the country's men's futsal program.
Indeed, the 2026 tournament will be Tanzania’s first appearance at the men's Futsal Africa Cup of Nations. The team had previously attempted to qualify for the 2024 edition but failed to reach the finals.
Their 2026 qualification therefore represents a breakthrough after years of limited exposure on the continental stage. Tanzania's route to Morocco began in the first round of the qualifiers, where they faced Zimbabwe. CAF's qualifying format involved two-legged ties, with the aggregate winners progressing to the next stage.
The team then faced Ivory Coast in the decisive second round. Tanzania won the tie 9-7 on aggregate, securing one of the seven available qualification places alongside hosts and defending champions Morocco. The achievement is particularly significant given Tanzania's relatively recent emergence in international men's futsal.
The national side has been building its international experience through regional and international matches, with Reid now tasked with developing a squad capable of competing against Africa's established futsal powers.
Their Group B assignment will offer an immediate test of that progress. Egypt have a long-established pedigree, while Angola have previously finished among Africa's leading sides and Mozambique have also featured regularly at the continental finals.
For Tanzania, the two matches in Cairo will therefore be more than ordinary friendlies. They will give Reid and his players a valuable opportunity to measure themselves against the opposition they will face in Morocco and identify areas requiring improvement before the tournament.
