The final 28-man squad is named by Tanzania coach Gamondi at AFCON 2025
Miguel Gamondi, the head coach of Tanzania, has revealed his final 28-man roster for the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations. This is a significant step in the Taifa Stars’ attempt to advance to the tournament’s knockout stage for the first time ever.
The selection, which was made public following weeks of evaluation from a preliminary provisional team, includes both exceptional Tanzanian Premier League players and a well-balanced mix of foreign-based talent.
The selection is dominated by players from local powerhouses Simba SC, Young Africans, and Azam FC as Gamondi adheres strictly to his ideology of creating a side based on domestic talent.
A Tough Group Is Coming
Tanzania will play in a difficult Group A with three-time champions Nigeria, North African powerhouse Tunisia, and strong regional rivals Uganda in their fourth appearance at the continental showcase.
Before concluding the group phase with a challenging test against Tunisia on December 30, the Taifa Stars will kick up their campaign against Nigeria on December 23 and Uganda on December 27.
Key Highlights: Msuva and Samatta Return
The return of captain Mbwana Samatta, who is back to his best at French Ligue 1 team Le Havre, is the main talking point in Gamondi’s side.
Tanzania’s aspirations are anticipated to be greatly aided by his leadership and rekindled confidence.
Simon Msuva, an accomplished forward who was a member of the provisional team but is presently playing in Iraq, is also selected. His background and ability to score goals provide more depth to the attack.
Combining Youth and Experience
Gamondi has previously stated that he wanted to assemble a “strong, well-balanced side” primarily composed of local players who are familiar with Tanzanian football culture.
The final list makes this quite evident.
Prominent local athletes like Mohammed Hussein, Pascal Msindo, Feisal Salum, and Yakoub Suleiman all clinched spots.
Gamondi’s faith in the next generation was further demonstrated by the call-ups of rising talents Kelvin Nashon and Novatus Dismas.
Important International Inclusions
The defender Haji Mnoga of Salford City in England is one of the most notable foreign-based players.
His 2023 AFCON experience gives consistency to a defense that has improved in the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournaments.
Despite their failure to advance, Tanzania achieved its highest-ever AFCON points total in 2023. Gamondi, who succeeded Hemed Suleiman, has pushed his team to “push to get results in every game” as they aim for a historic knockout berth.
