AFCON 2027 Qualifiers · Group L · Matchday 1 · FULL-TIME
🇹🇿 Tanzania 0 – 2 Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼
⚽ Franculino Djú 33′ · Mama Baldé 58′
New Amaan Complex, Zanzibar · Friday 25 September 2026 · 16:00 EAT (13:00 GMT)
Summary: Tanzania’s AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign began with a 2–0 home defeat to Guinea-Bissau in Zanzibar. Franculino Djú gave the visitors the lead in the 33rd minute, and Mama Baldé doubled it in the 58th. The Taifa Stars created chances and had more shots on target, but poor finishing cost them again. As co-hosts, Tanzania are already qualified for the Finals, so the result doesn’t threaten their place in the tournament. It does give Miguel Gamondi plenty to work on before next June.
How the match unfolded
Tanzania started with energy in front of the home crowd and had chances in the first half. Mnoga headed a Hussein cross wide, and M’Mombwa fired a powerful shot off target. Guinea-Bissau stayed patient, kept the ball and pressed high, and in the 33rd minute Franculino Djú, set up by Beto, fired a powerful shot from the edge of the area into the top corner.
Tanzania couldn’t respond before half-time. Thirteen minutes after the break, Mama Baldé finished a pass from Dalcio to make it 2–0. Gamondi made changes on the hour, bringing on Allarakhia and Msanga, and later Chilambo, but the Taifa Stars couldn’t find a way back.
Tanzania line-up
Foba; Mnoga, Mwamnyeto, Hamad, Hussein; M’Mombwa, Mao, Salum; Mwalimu and others.
Substitutes used: Allarakhia for Mwalimu (62′), Msanga for Mao (62′), Chilambo for M’Mombwa (75′).
What went wrong
The problem wasn’t a lack of chances. Tanzania had spells of possession and created several openings, but the same poor finishing that has troubled them in recent matches cost them again. Guinea-Bissau were clinical: Djú plays his club football in Portugal and Baldé in Turkey, and that European experience showed in the way they took their chances.
Does this defeat matter?
For qualification: no. Tanzania are guaranteed a place at AFCON 2027 as co-hosts, alongside Kenya and Uganda. For preparation: yes. This was the Taifa Stars’ first competitive match since a 6–0 friendly win over Macau in March, and it shows how big the gap is between creating chances and scoring them. Every qualifier between now and March is a chance for Gamondi to fix that before the tournament starts.
For Guinea-Bissau, coached by Emiliano Té, the three points are huge. Only one of Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Madagascar will join Tanzania at the Finals.
Group L after Matchday 1
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania (host) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
Next up: Tuesday 29 September
- 🇲🇬 Madagascar v Tanzania 🇹🇿
- 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria 🇳🇬: Estádio 24 de Setembro, Bissau. This could be the game that decides Group L.
Full standings: all 12 groups · Taifa Stars squad: Gamondi’s squad · Kwa Kiswahili: soma ripoti hii