Amrouche announces Taifa Stars squad for 2023 AFCON qualifiers

14Mar 2023
Michael Mwebe
Dar es Salaam
Sport
The Guardian
Amrouche announces Taifa Stars squad for 2023 AFCON qualifiers

NEWLY appointed Tanzania’s senior national football team ‘Taifa Stars’ head coach Adel Amrouche yesterday unveiled his first selection of 31 players for the first of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers' double-header against Uganda.

Taifa Stars' new head coach Adel Amrouche. PHOTO: COURTESY OF TANZANIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION

The squad is made up of well-experienced and celebrated players including captain Mbwana Samatta, Himid Mao, and Simon Msuva.

The trio was part of the Taifa Stars squad that participated in the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt.

Yanga midfielder Feisal Salum ' Feitoto', who is caught up in a legal tussle with his club, has also been included in the squad.

But Simba SC fullbacks, Shomari Kapombe and Mohamed Hussein have been overlooked despite a strong showing for their club in the ongoing CAF Champions League Group Stage.

Amrouche, who is assisted by Hemed Suleiman 'Morocco', has also included several youngsters in the squad which is largely composed of local players.

Taifa Stars will take on Uganda in Egypt on March 24 and return for another clash against the same opponents three days later at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Tanzania has just one point from the opening two games in Group F, picked off in an away draw with Niger in Benin. There was also a 2-0 home loss to group leader Algeria.

The 34th edition of the AFCON finals will take place in Ivory Coast next year. A total of 24 teams will qualify to play in the final tournament, including Ivory Coast, who qualify automatically as hosts.

 

Taifa Stars' full squad:

Goalkeepers: Aishi Manula (Simba SC), Beno Kakolanya (Simba SC), and Metacha Mnata (Yanga).

Defenders: Kibwana Shomari (Yanga), Datius Peter (Kagera Sugar), Yahya Mbegu (Ihefu SC), David Luhende (Kagera Sugar), Dickson Job (Yanga), Bakari Mwamnyeto (Yanga), Abdallah Mfuko (Kagera Sugar), Ibrahim Baka (Yanga), Alphonse Mabula (FK Spartak Subotica- Serbia), and Haji Mnoga (Aldershot Town- England))

Midfielders: Mudathir Yahya (Yanga), Sospeter Bajana (Azam FC), Mzamiru Yassin (Simba SC), Yusuph Kagoma (Singida Big Stars), Ramadhani Makame (Bodrumspor-Turkey), Edmund John (Geita Gold FC), Feisal Salum (Yanga), Khalid Habibu (KMKM FC), Novatus Dismas (Zulte Waregem- Belgium), Ben Starkie (Basford United FC- England), Ally Msengi (Swallows- South Africa), and Himid Mao (Ghazl El Mahalla SC- Egypt)

Forwards: Anuary Jabir (Kagera Sugar), Abdulhamis Suleiman (Azam FC), Simon Msuva (Al-Qadsiah FC- Saudi Arabia), Mbwana Samatta (KRC Genk- Belgium), Kelvin John (KRC Genk- Belgium), and Said Khamis (Al-Fujairah- UAE)

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