The Tanzania national football team, Taifa Stars, has departed for Egypt tonight to set up a two-week training camp in preparation for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The tournament, which features players who compete in their respective domestic leagues, will be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda this August.
Head coach Ahmed Suleiman, famously known as "Morocco", said the overseas training camp is part of a broader plan to ensure the team is fully prepared both mentally and tactically for the championship.
He noted that Egypt was chosen for its calm environment and excellent sporting infrastructure, which offers ideal conditions for uninterrupted preparations compared to many other African countries.
“We’ll spend two weeks outside the country to focus on planning and strengthening our squad. The calm atmosphere and quality facilities in Egypt will help us sharpen our game and build confidence ahead of CHAN,” said Coach Morocco.
He stressed that this year’s CHAN will be a critical platform for local players to showcase their talent as the country also looks ahead to participating in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
According to him, the team’s ambition is to win every match, especially considering that Tanzania will play as one of the host nations.
“Our goal is to achieve strong results in every game. Playing at home comes with high expectations, so we’re taking this tournament very seriously. We want to make the country proud,” he added.
The squad travelling to Egypt includes players from some of the top clubs in the Tanzanian Premier League. From Simba SC, the selected players are Aishi Manula, Shomari Kapombe, Mohammed Hussein, Abdulrazack Hamza, Yusuph Kagoma, and Kibu Denis.
Singida Black Stars will be represented by Hussein Masalanga, while Azam FC contributes Lusajo Mwaikenda, Feisal Salum, Abdul Suleiman, Iddy Sulemani, Pascal Msindo, and Nassor Saadun.
Yanga SC players include Sheikhan Khamis, Clement Mzize, Mudathir Yahya, and Ibrahim Hamad. Sabby Kondo and Lameck Lawi will represent Coastal Union, with Ahmed Pipino and Jammy Simba coming from KMC. Yakoub Selemani and Wilson Nangu join from JKT Tanzania, Mishano Michael from Kengold FC, Vedastus Masinde from TMA Stars, and another appearance from Ibrahim Hamad, this time listed under Tabora United, possibly indicating reinforcement or dual club listing.
With home advantage and a focused training plan, hopes are high that Taifa Stars will deliver a strong performance in CHAN 2024 and provide a glimpse of what Tanzanian football can offer on the continental stage.