Head coach Hemed Suleiman “Morocco” released his 23-man list on Sunday, setting the stage for camp to kick off on Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Dar es Salaam. The wait is over. Tanzania’s national football team, the Taifa Stars, has unveiled the squad that will carry the nation’s hopes into two defining battles on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Head coach Hemed Suleiman “Morocco” released his 23-man list on Sunday, setting the stage for camp to kick off on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
The spotlight is now firmly fixed on September 9, when the Stars will host Niger at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam from 4pm. It will be a clash of equals, with Tanzania and Niger both locked on six points in Group E.
Only goal difference separates the two, with Niger holding second place thanks to their superior scoring record.
A win for Tanzania, however, would propel them above Niger and put the dream of a first-ever World Cup qualification firmly within reach.
This is no ordinary squad announcement. It marks the beginning of a journey that could redefine Tanzanian football history. For a nation yet to grace the World Cup stage, the stakes have never been higher and the belief never stronger.
At the center of this mission is Mbwana Samatta, the battle-tested captain who has carried the nation’s hopes for more than a decade. Now playing his club football in France with Le Havre, Samatta shoulders the responsibility of leading his country towards uncharted glory.
Alongside him is Simon Msuva, the dependable striker currently at Al-Talaba SC in Iraq, whose knack for crucial goals has often been the difference in high-pressure encounters. Together, the pair form a frontline brimming with both history and hunger.
But the heartbeat of this squad lies in its new blood. Clement Mzize, who captured attention with two goals at CHAN 2024, returns to the fold, hungry to prove himself again.
And then comes the boldest move of all—the inclusion of teenage forward Antony Remmy from Azam FC’s U20 side. His selection is a gamble, but also a statement: Tanzania is not just playing for today but planting seeds for tomorrow.
“We must prepare a team that balances experience with youthful talent,” said coach Hemed. “This is not a short journey. We are building for today, but also for the future. The young players will learn directly from leaders like Samatta and Msuva.”
At the back, experience holds firm. Veterans like Shomari Kapombe of Simba SC, Mohamed Hussein, Ibrahim “Bacca” Hamad, and Dickson Job of Yanga SC bring steel and composure to a defense that will be tested against physical opposition.
In midfield, creativity and grit will come from Mudathir Yahya, Feisal Salum, and Yahya Zaid, players who have become the spine of the Stars in recent years.
This campaign builds on Tanzania’s spirited showing at CHAN 2024, where the Stars fought their way to the quarterfinals in East Africa’s first-ever hosting of the tournament.
That run gave fans belief, but the challenge now is greater, bolder, and historic: to finally book a ticket to the World Cup.
The standings leave no room for error. Morocco remain runaway leaders with 15 points from five games, almost certain to claim the group’s top spot.
But the real fight is for second place, where Niger and Tanzania are neck and neck. Zambia lurk with three points, while Congo sit bottom without a single point. The next two fixtures—against Congo Brazzaville and Niger—will therefore be decisive. Win both, and Tanzania’s dream roars back to life. Slip up, and it could fade away.
This squad, then, is more than just a roll call of names. It is a declaration of ambition, a rallying cry to a nation daring to believe that the impossible can be made possible.
With seasoned warriors ready to give everything, and a new generation eager to prove their worth, the Taifa Stars march into camp carrying not just their boots and jerseys, but the weight of millions of Tanzanians’ dreams.
