Nigeria’s Group C opponents Tanzania have unveiled their provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, with head coach Miguel Gamondi naming a 53-man list as preparations intensify ahead of the continental showpiece.
Gamondi’s squad mirrors the approach taken by Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle, who released a 54-man provisional squad on Tuesday, with the final list expected in the coming days.
The Taifa Stars’ squad is heavily dominated by home-based players, with 39 of the 53 players currently playing in Tanzania. Azam FC lead the way with 10 call-ups, while league champions Young Africans and rivals Simba SC have seven players each, followed by five representatives from Singida Black Stars.
Gamondi also included a handful of foreign-based talents expected to add quality and balance to the squad. Among them is 20-year-old Cyprian Kachwele, who has been in impressive form for Vancouver Whitecaps II in the MLS Next Pro, contributing 11 goal involvements in 19 matches this year.
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22-year-old Forward Kelvin John, who has 12 goal contributions in 21 games for Danish side AaB, also makes the list, alongside experienced striker Mbwana Samatta, currently playing in France’s Ligue 1 with Le Havre.
Tanzania will open their AFCON campaign with a high-stakes clash against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on December 23, before taking on Uganda on December 27 and Tunisia on December 30, as they aim to reach the knockout round for the first time in their history.
The Taifa Stars have featured in the tournament three times (1980, 2019, 2023) but have never progressed beyond the group stage. Their previous meeting with Nigeria at the AFCON dates back to the 1980 edition, where they lost 3-1 to the hosts in their opening game and eventually finished bottom of the group with a single point.
Their most recent appearance in 2023 marked their best-ever performance statistically, securing two draws against Zambia and DR Congo after losing to Morocco. The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, and Gamondi’s team will be determined to make history.
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