Tanzania AFCON 2027 Squad — Key Facts
- Head coach: Miguel Ángel Gamondi
- Squad announced: 4 September 2026 by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF)
- Tanzania vs Guinea-Bissau: 23 September 2026 — AFCON 2027 qualifier
- Tanzania vs Madagascar: 27 September 2026 — AFCON 2027 qualifier
- Tanzania vs Ghana: International friendly (preparation match)
- Tanzania status: Automatically qualified as co-host — playing qualifiers for competitive preparation
- Group L opponents: 🇳🇬 Nigeria · 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau · 🇲🇬 Madagascar
- Tanzania vs Nigeria: 24 June 2027 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium (most anticipated match)
Summary: Tanzania head coach Miguel Ángel Gamondi has named a preliminary Taifa Stars squad for the opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar, plus an international friendly against Ghana. Tanzania opens Group L at home against Guinea-Bissau on 23 September 2026, then travels to face Madagascar on 27 September. The Ghana friendly serves as preparation. Although Tanzania is automatically qualified for AFCON 2027 as co-host, Gamondi is treating these fixtures as competitive preparation for hosting the tournament on home soil. The confirmed goalkeeper unit includes Zuberi Foba, Aishi Manula, Yona Amos, Metacha Mnata and Hussein Masalanga.
Tanzania’s Taifa Stars have their preliminary squad ahead of the opening fixtures of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Head coach Miguel Ángel Gamondi has selected the group to face Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar and Ghana in September. Despite Tanzania’s automatic qualification as co-host, Gamondi is using the fixtures as competitive preparation for co-hosting the continental tournament in June-July 2027. This article covers the squad announcement, fixtures, opponents and what these matches mean for Tanzania.
The Fixtures — What Tanzania Plays This September
| Matchday | Fixture | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD1 | 🇹🇿 Tanzania vs 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 23 September 2026 | AFCON 2027 qualifier |
| MD2 | 🇲🇬 Madagascar vs 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 27 September 2026 | AFCON 2027 qualifier |
| Friendly | 🇹🇿 Tanzania vs 🇬🇭 Ghana | September 2026 (TBC) | International friendly |
The Ghana friendly is the standout addition — Ghana is one of Africa’s four-time AFCON champions and playing them tests Tanzania against a genuine continental heavyweight. This is unusually ambitious scheduling for a preparation window and signals Gamondi’s confidence in his group.
The Confirmed Squad — Goalkeepers
The confirmed goalkeeper unit for the September fixtures shows Gamondi rewarding domestic form:
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Zuberi Foba | Azam FC |
| Aishi Manula — experienced #1 | Azam FC |
| Yona Amos | Singida BS |
| Metacha Mnata | Singida BS |
| Hussein Masalanga | Young Africans (Yanga) |
Notable structure: two Azam FC goalkeepers, two Singida BS goalkeepers, and one Yanga goalkeeper. This is a purely domestically-based goalkeeper unit, reflecting Gamondi’s stated selection philosophy: “In my selection I do not look at the size of the club but the performance of the player. What matters is the player’s level and how he can help the team perform well.”
Gamondi’s Wider Player Pool — Who to Expect in the Outfield Squad
Based on Gamondi’s recent Taifa Stars squads (FIFA Series Rwanda in March 2026 and the Uganda/Rwanda friendlies in Marrakesh in June 2026), the September provisional squad is expected to include most of the following outfield players. Full outfield squad details will be confirmed by TFF in the coming days.
🛡️ Defenders — Expected core
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Mohamed Mussa | Domestic |
| Twalib Nuru | Domestic |
| Bakari Msimu | Domestic |
| Elias Lameck | Domestic |
| Haji Mnoga | Portsmouth (England) — key European-based defender |
| Miraji Abdallah | Coastal Union |
⚙️ Midfielders — Expected core
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Nickson Kibabage | Domestic |
| Bakari Mwamnyeto | Domestic |
| Mohamed “Tshabalala” Hussein | Domestic |
| Ibrahim Abdulla | Yanga |
| Yusuph Kagoma | Simba SC |
| Mudathir Yahya | Domestic |
| Feisal Salum | Domestic |
⚔️ Forwards — Expected core
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Mbwana Samatta ⭐ CAPTAIN (if fit) | Domestic-based veteran |
| Simon Msuva | Key goal-scorer, delivered qualification vs Guinea in AFCON 2025 cycle |
| Kelvin John | Aalborg BK (Denmark) |
| Iddi Suleiman | Azam FC |
| Charles M’mombwa | Domestic |
| Tarryn Allarakhia | Domestic |
| Paul Peter | Domestic |
| Suleiman Mwalimu | Domestic |
Full outfield squad list will be published as soon as TFF releases official details. This section reflects Gamondi’s recent squad patterns and is subject to updates.
Group L — Tanzania’s Unique Position
| Team | FIFA Ranking Tier | Story |
|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Pot 1 — heavyweight | 3-time AFCON champions (1980, 1994, 2013), finished 3rd at AFCON 2025 |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | Rising under Gamondi | Co-host, automatically qualified — highest points-total ever at AFCON 2023 |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | Dangerous outsider | AFCON 2019 quarter-finalists, strong recent form |
| 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | Regular AFCON qualifiers | Consistent continental participants |
The critical detail: Because Tanzania is already qualified as co-host, CAF has confirmed that only the highest-ranked team apart from Tanzania will qualify from Group L. This turns Group L into a three-way battle between Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau for a single qualification spot — while Tanzania uses the six competitive matches as tournament preparation.
The Fixture That Matters Most — Tanzania vs Nigeria at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
Tanzania will host Nigeria on 24 June 2027 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. This match — while in the middle of the qualifying campaign timeline — will fall during the AFCON 2027 tournament window and be one of the most anticipated fixtures in Tanzanian football history.
Historical context: Tanzania and Nigeria met at AFCON 2025 in Morocco in the group stage, with Nigeria winning 1-0. The rematch on home soil at a packed Benjamin Mkapa Stadium during the AFCON qualifying campaign — and just weeks before Tanzania kicks off the actual tournament — is the biggest football event Tanzania has ever staged.
Why These Matches Matter Even Though Tanzania Is Already Qualified
Tanzania’s automatic qualification as co-host has raised the question: what is the point of playing qualifiers at all? Gamondi’s approach mirrors that of Kenya’s Benni McCarthy — these are competitive preparation matches, not friendlies:
- Match sharpness: Six competitive matches at continental level between September 2026 and March 2027 gives the squad genuine tournament-tempo preparation
- Squad assessment: Gamondi can test the full player pool before making final AFCON 2027 selection decisions
- Ghana friendly value: Testing against a four-time AFCON champion is unusually ambitious preparation — signals Gamondi’s confidence and ambition
- Home crowd chemistry: Playing Guinea-Bissau at home first gives Taifa Stars an emotional home-crowd baseline ahead of the tournament
- National morale: Winning September fixtures against strong opposition builds fan momentum ahead of the tournament — critical for atmosphere at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and Arusha Stadium
Tanzania’s Recent Form Under Gamondi
Miguel Gamondi took over as Tanzania head coach after Suleiman Hemed was dismissed following AFCON 2025 in Morocco. Under Gamondi, Tanzania has:
- Achieved their highest-ever points total at AFCON 2023
- Reached AFCON 2025 in Morocco
- Played FIFA Series matches in Rwanda in March 2026 (against Liechtenstein, Estonia, Kenya)
- Played friendly matches in Marrakesh against Uganda (5 June 2026) and Rwanda (9 June 2026)
Gamondi’s stated philosophy prioritises form over reputation — selecting players who are getting regular playing time at their clubs regardless of the club’s size. This meritocratic approach has widened the Taifa Stars’ player pool significantly and given depth ahead of the tournament.
Tanzania’s AFCON 2027 Preparation Beyond Qualifying
Stadium infrastructure preparation is progressing in parallel with squad building:
- Benjamin Mkapa Stadium (Dar es Salaam, 60,000 capacity) — flagship venue, renovations ongoing; CAF inspectors expressed satisfaction in September 2026 inspection
- Arusha Stadium — assessed by CAF on 3 September 2026 with positive verdict
- Amaan Stadium and Fumba Stadium (Zanzibar) — undergoing final upgrades
- Training grounds — Gymkhana II and Faras (Dar), Mgambo/Engutoto/Magereza (Arusha) all CAF-inspected
For our latest coverage of the CAF inspection see our CAF Tanzania inspection verdict article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is in Tanzania’s AFCON 2027 qualifiers squad?
Miguel Gamondi has named a preliminary squad for AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar plus a Ghana friendly. The confirmed goalkeepers are Zuberi Foba (Azam), Aishi Manula (Azam), Yona Amos (Singida BS), Metacha Mnata (Singida BS) and Hussein Masalanga (Yanga). Full outfield squad details will be confirmed by TFF in the coming days but the pool is expected to include Haji Mnoga (Portsmouth), Kelvin John (Aalborg), Mbwana Samatta, Simon Msuva, Yusuph Kagoma, Ibrahim Abdulla and other regulars from Gamondi’s recent selections.
When does Tanzania play in AFCON 2027 qualifiers?
Tanzania’s Matchday 1 is at home against Guinea-Bissau on 23 September 2026. Matchday 2 is away to Madagascar on 27 September 2026. Tanzania will also play Ghana in an international friendly during the September window as preparation.
Is Ghana on Tanzania’s qualifying schedule?
No. Ghana is a separate international friendly organised as preparation for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. Ghana is not in Tanzania’s Group L. Tanzania’s qualifying group opponents are Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Who are Tanzania’s opponents in AFCON 2027 qualifying?
Tanzania is in Group L alongside Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Because Tanzania is automatically qualified as co-host, only the highest-ranked team apart from Tanzania will qualify from Group L — turning the group into a three-way battle for a single spot between Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Why is Tanzania playing qualifiers if they are already qualified as co-host?
CAF requires all AFCON 2027 co-hosts (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda) to play the qualifying rounds despite their automatic qualification. Head coach Miguel Gamondi is treating the matches as competitive preparation for the tournament — a chance to build squad depth, test tactical approaches and assess players before final AFCON 2027 selection.
Where will Tanzania play their home AFCON 2027 qualifier?
Tanzania vs Guinea-Bissau on 23 September 2026 is a home fixture, expected to be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The venue is currently undergoing renovation ahead of the AFCON 2027 tournament itself.
Who is Tanzania’s head coach?
Miguel Ángel Gamondi is the head coach of Tanzania’s Taifa Stars. He replaced Suleiman Hemed after AFCON 2025 in Morocco. Gamondi’s stated selection philosophy prioritises player form over club reputation.
When is Tanzania vs Nigeria at AFCON 2027?
Tanzania will face Nigeria on 24 June 2027 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium during the AFCON 2027 tournament window. This is expected to be one of the most anticipated football matches in Tanzanian history — a rematch of their AFCON 2025 group-stage meeting which Nigeria won 1-0.
Has Tanzania ever qualified for AFCON before?
Yes. Tanzania has qualified for AFCON multiple times, most recently AFCON 2023 (in Ivory Coast, held early 2024) where they achieved their highest-ever points total at an AFCON tournament, and AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
What was Tanzania’s route to AFCON 2025?
Under previous coach Suleiman Hemed, Tanzania sealed AFCON 2025 qualification with a decisive 1-0 win over Guinea in their final group fixture, thanks to a Simon Msuva goal. They finished second in a group with D.R. Congo, Guinea and Ethiopia with 10 points from three wins, one draw and two defeats.
For the complete AFCON 2027 tournament overview see our dates and schedule guide. For the full qualifying schedule across all groups see our qualifiers guide. For Kenya’s squad see our Kenya squad article. For the Group L battle for a single qualifying spot see our Group L guide.
Squad and fixture details confirmed by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) statement on 4 September 2026. Sources: Dailysports.net, The Citizen Tanzania, The Respondents, Udaku Special. Squad list will be trimmed to the final matchday squad before Tanzania’s 23 September opener. This article will be updated as full outfield squad details are released.