Tanzania’s national football team, Taifa Stars, has named a 23-man squad as the country intensifies preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The players will report to camp on September 2, 2025, ahead of back-to-back fixtures against Congo Brazzaville and Niger.
The Stars will begin their campaign away to Congo on September 5, before hosting Niger at the Amaan Complex Stadium in Zanzibar on September 9.
Head coach Hemed “Morocco” Seleiman, speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam on August 31, said the team will depart for Congo on September 3 and is determined to keep its qualification dream alive.
“We still have a chance to progress. Our focus is to fight hard, play with discipline, and make sure we collect the results we need,” Seleiman said, adding that both fixtures are crucial to Tanzania’s hopes of advancing.
The squad features a blend of home-based and international players. Locally, the call-ups include Yakoub Suleimani and Wilson Nangu (JKT Tanzania), Feisal Salum, Iddy Suleiman, Yahya Zaidi, Pascal Msindo, Abdul Hamis, and Antony Remmy (Azam FC), along with Simba’s Shomari Kapombe, Suleiman Mwalimu, and Yusuph Kagoma.
Yanga contributes Mohamed Hussein, Ibrahim Abdullah, Eddmund John, and Mudathir Yahya, while Hussein Masaranga represents Singida Big Stars.
From abroad, Seleiman has summoned Novatus Dismas (Coztepe FC, Turkey), Charles M’mombwa (Floriana FC, Malta), captain Mbwana Samatta (Le Havre AC, France), and Simon Msuva (Al-Talaba SC, Iraq).
Tanzania currently sits second in its qualifying group with nine points, trailing leaders Morocco, who top the table with 15 points and have already booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
With only a handful of matches left, the upcoming clashes will be decisive for Taifa Stars’ bid to secure a historic qualification.