Tanzania head coach Miguel Ángel Gamondi has named a 42-player provisional squad. It marks the start of Taifa Stars' preparations for the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Bumper Squad Named for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
The Tanzania Football Federation confirmed the list on September 4. Several new faces have been included. Gamondi wants to raise competition for places before the crunch fixtures.
Taifa Stars face Guinea-Bissau on September 23. They then travel to meet Madagascar four days later, on September 27. A friendly against Ghana has also been arranged as part of the preparation.
Domestic Clubs Dominate as Kamungo Earns Surprise Call-Up
Domestic clubs dominate the squad. Azam FC provide the biggest contingent, with nine players. Goalkeeper Aishi Manula and defender Zuber Foba lead that group. Simba SC follow with seven representatives, including Vedastus Masinde and Nickson Kibabage. Young Africans contribute six players, among them Ibrahim Bacca and Mohammed Mussa.
The biggest headline belongs to a player based abroad. Bernard Kamungo, who plays for MLS side FC Dallas, earns a call-up. He is one of eleven attackers named in the squad. Kamungo previously had ties to the United States national team setup. His inclusion adds an unfamiliar attacking dimension for Gamondi to assess.
Other overseas-based names feature too. Simon Msuva plays his football in Iraq. Kelvin John turns out for Denmark's Aalborg. Novatus Miroshi represents Turkish club Göztepe. Alphonce Mmombwa lines up for Algeria's JS Kabylie.
Tanzania Already Qualified — AFCON 2027 Group L Preview
Tanzania sit in a tough section. Group L pairs them with Nigeria, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau. Nigeria are widely tipped as favourites, given their depth and pedigree. Madagascar remain dangerous too, having reached the 2019 AFCON quarter-finals as debutants.
There's a twist, though. Tanzania have already secured their spot at the 2027 finals. They co-host the tournament alongside Kenya and Uganda. That means these qualifiers double as valuable match practice rather than survival football.
Gamondi extended his contract back in February 2026. He is using this campaign to fine-tune his squad ahead of the tournament itself. Home matches will be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
For punters, this is a low-pressure audition for Tanzania. Expect rotation and experimentation across both qualifiers. Kamungo's involvement, if he starts, adds intrigue to Taifa Stars' attacking options. Simon Msuva, the man whose goal sent Tanzania to AFCON 2025, remains the squad's most proven matchwinner.
Watch for team news closer to September 23. A large provisional list often narrows sharply before kickoff.