Andrew Olsson
January 4, 2026Gamondi: Tanzania has surprised a lot of people
Photo: Tanzania Football Federation
Gamondi: Tanzania has surprised a lot of people
Tanzania national team coach Miguel Angel Gamondi acknowledged the Herculean task of facing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco in the Round of 16 on Sunday while also praising his players.
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The Taifa Stars face an almost impossible task against the Atlas Lions, who are firm favorites to lift the AFCON trophy on home soil after winning Group A. Tanzania, on the other hand, barely scraped into the knockout stages but have shown a good level.
“I received very nice comments about our team. We surprised a lot of people with the way we played against strong teams like Nigeria and Tunisia. It is not easy, and the image of Tanzania is now very high,” said the Argentine coach.
The East Africans advanced despite failing to win a match in the group stage. After narrowly avoiding defeat to neighbors and regional rivals Uganda in a 1-1 draw, Feisal Salum’s long range strike gave the Taifa Stars the same result against Tunisia in their Group C finale. The team also put in a respectable performance against Nigeria despite losing 1-2 in their opening match.
“Tanzania is a big nation, but in football there is still a lot of improvement needed. Compared to a few years ago, we are growing. This is a confirmation that as a football nation we are developing and earning respect in Africa,” said Gamondi. The coach has spent a few years in Tanzania where he previously coached top local sides Young Africans and most recently Singida Black Stars.
But Sunday will provide the biggest challenge of Gamondi’s career despite his long career, which has included over twenty years with African clubs all over the continent.
Tanzania have not defeated Morocco since 2013 when they overcame the Atlas Lions 3-1 in Dar es Salaam during 2014 World Cup qualifying. Since then, they have lost their last four competitive matches against the North Africans including a 0-3 defeat at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
“We will play against the hosting team in front of over 60,000 people, so they will push their team. But we need to believe, work hard and take this game seriously like we have done until now.”
The issue for the underdogs will be scoring goals. Experienced forwards Mbwana Samatta and Simon Msuva are past their prime and struggle against higher levels of competition while younger prospects like Kelvin John and Kibu Denis have shown little to suggest that they will emerge at the competition.
However, a strong defense is something that Gamondi and his team can lean on. The coach has shown tactical flexibility in Morocco, with his switch to a 5-defender system proving to be a brilliant decision against Tunisia.
Moving Young Africans defender Dickson Job into the lineup to join club teammates Bakari Mwamnyeto and Ibrahim Hamad gives Tanzania three central defenders who know each other well. Dual national right back Haji Mnoga, who plays in England’s fourth tier League Two with Salford City FC, continues to impress while Simba SC left back Mohamed Hussein adds to the experience and determination of the defensive unit.
But the biggest Taifa Star is central midfielder Novatus Miroshi. One of the few players in the squad who plays for a top division European club in the Turkish Super Lig, the Göztepe player has advanced passing ability and continues to pull the strings in the Tanzanian midfield. Miroshi and the more attacking central presence Salum will be crucial if there is to be a shocking result in the opening match on Sunday.
Either way, this team has surpassed expectations and made history as the first Taifa Stars squad to reach the knockout stages at an Africa Cup of Nations tournament. But Gamondi’s final message before their moment in the spotlight is to not be content with how far they have gone.
“We must continue working very hard and not relax. We can be happy with the performance, but we should not relax. The most important thing is to continue with the consistency we have achieved.”
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