The Taifa Stars of Tanzania have officially kicked off their preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with the opening of a training camp in Egypt, marking a determined build-up toward the continental showpiece in Morocco.
Led by new Argentine coach Pablo Gamondi, the Tanzanian squad will use the camp to boost physical fitness, fine-tune tactical structures, and strengthen team chemistry before heading directly to Morocco for the tournament.
Tanzania will compete in a challenging Group A, which includes Nigeria, Tunisia, and East African rivals Uganda. The Taifa Stars begin their AFCON campaign against Nigeria on December 23 in Fez, followed by matches against Uganda on December 27 and Tunisia on December 30.
The early arrival in Egypt is intended to help the players acclimatise to conditions similar to those in Morocco, ensuring they are fully prepared for the intensity of the competition.
The approach mirrors the preparation strategy of Nigeria, who will also open camp in Egypt on December 10 ahead of AFCON 2025. The Super Eagles are scheduled to play a friendly against the Egyptian national team on December 14 as part of their build-up.
Tanzania’s qualification for AFCON 2025 marks their fourth appearance at the tournament, following previous outings in 1980, 2019, and 2023. Although they have yet to progress beyond the group stage, the Taifa Stars showed signs of improvement at the last edition, achieving their highest points tally.
Gamondi, who succeeded Hemed Suleiman as head coach, has named a squad that blends local-based players with internationally experienced stars.
Captain Mbwana Samatta, currently at French club Le Havre, headlines the attacking options, while veteran forward Simon Msuva of Al-Talaba SC in Iraq also returns to the fold. Defender Haji Mnoga of Salford City in England who featured in all group matches at AFCON 2023 has been named as well.
Gamondi has also included several home-based talents such as Hussein Masalanga, Yakoub Suleiman, Yona Amosi, Zuberi Foba, Iddi Selemani, Ibrahim Abdullah, Dickson Job, Feisal Salum, Ahmed Pipino, and Abdul Suleiman, reflecting his commitment to integrating domestic players into the national team structure.
With early preparations underway, the Taifa Stars are aiming for their strongest AFCON showing yet as they head to Morocco determined to rewrite their continental history.
