Tanzania’s Taifa Stars are set for a fierce regional reunion with neighbours Uganda after being drawn in a testing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 Group C alongside continental heavyweights Nigeria and Tunisia.
The December showdown in Morocco promises a blend of rivalry, revenge, and redemption.
Head coach Hemed Suleiman admits his side faces a steep climb but insists Tanzania will approach every fixture with both respect and resolve.
“Nigeria is full of attacking talent and lethal creativity. They punish lapses in concentration,” Suleiman told CAF. “Tunisia is tactically disciplined and difficult to break down, a team that tests your patience.”
While much of the spotlight will fall on the West and North African giants, Suleiman is equally wary of Uganda, a team he describes as spirited and unpredictable.
“Uganda brings possession-based hunger and fight; their regional rivalry makes that fixture special. We will tailor our approach per game, but without losing our own identity,” he noted.
FIFA INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY MATCH
FT’ Iran 🇮🇷 2️⃣ – 0️⃣ 🇹🇿 Tanzania@tanfootball @TaifaStars_ pic.twitter.com/5jw1zuDvlV
— TFF TANZANIA (@Tanfootball) October 14, 2025
The Tanzanian tactician believes his current squad is far more mature and equipped for the continental stage than in previous appearances.
“We have taken lessons from 2019 and 2023 and applied them in training, match planning, and selection,” he said. “Our teams are more competitive and intense. Clubs like Simba, Young Africans, and Azam playing regularly at continental level help raise standards.”
Suleiman pointed to a holistic transformation within Tanzanian football, one that extends beyond tactics and talent.
“We’ve invested more in sports science, nutrition and recovery, as well as psychological resilience. The aim is that when we arrive in Morocco, we are sharp, focused, and well-balanced, ready for even a stiff test,” he added.
The coach has mapped out a pragmatic yet ambitious roadmap for the group stage, emphasizing defensive discipline as the cornerstone of their campaign:
“We want to aim for at least four points, that often makes one competitive for the knockout phase. Defensive solidity is central: clean sheets will be a benchmark of success.”
On the attacking end, Suleiman revealed that his team has fine-tuned key details that could make the difference in tight contests:
“Offensively, we want to convert more of our chances. We have worked hard on transitions and set pieces because those margins often decide tight games. Consistency and discipline will be key.”
Timu ya Taifa ya Tanzania “Taifa Stars” wakiwa uwanja wa Ndege wa Kimataifa wa Julius Nyerere (JNIA) kwa safari ya kuelekea Dubai kwenye mchezo wa kirafiki wa Kalenda ya FIFA dhidi ya Iran pic.twitter.com/vdtWFfOsJX
— TFF TANZANIA (@Tanfootball) October 11, 2025
While advancing from a group containing Nigeria, Tunisia, and Uganda would already be a landmark achievement, Suleiman says the Taifa Stars are thinking beyond just participation.
“Reaching knockouts would be a historic milestone. But it’s not the end, we would aim for a quarter-final showing, and continue building towards AFCON 2027, when we co-host. Each round we pass strengthens our experience, raises expectation, and reinforces our long-term ambition: not just to qualify, but to compete consistently at this level,” Suleiman concluded.
For Tanzania, the AFCON 2025 campaign is more than a tournament, it’s a statement of intent, a test of growth, and another chance to prove that East African football belongs on the grandest of stages.
