Mbwana Samatta to lead Tanzania squad for AFCON 2025

Veteran forward Mbwana Samatta has been drafted into the Tanzania national team squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

 

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According to the provisional list released by new coach Miguel Gamondi, Samatta, who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Le Havre, will be part of the squad for another edition having captained the side in 2023.

Samatta was was named by manager Emmanuel Amunike as one of the 23 in 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He made his debut in the competition on June 23 against Senegal in the round-robin stage.
Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro defender Cyprian Thobias Kachwele is in the squad, having earned his first call up to Taifa Stars in 2024, for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (held in 2024). He was then called up for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers in September 2024, and debuted on September 10 against Guinea.

Meanwhile, defender Haji Ali Mnoga, who features for EFL League Two side Salford City, has also been shortlisted by Gamondi. Mnoga was eligible to represent both England and Tanzania at international level. He made his England U-17 debut on February 10, 2019, coming on at half-time against Hungary U17 in a 4-1 penalty friendly win.

Tanzania will be making their fourth AFCON appearance in Morocco, having featured already in three AFCONs, in 1980, 2019, and 2023. The Taifa Stars have been pooled in Group A alongside Nigeria, Tunisia, and East African neighbours Uganda.

They will kick off their campaign in Morocco against the Super Eagles on December 23, take on Uganda on December 27 before winding up their preliminary group matches against Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on December 30.