Coach Etienne Ndairagije drops half of Tanzanian squad for World Cup qualifiers

Mbwana Samatta of Tanzania during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Senegal and Tanzania at 30 June Stadium, Ciro, Egypt on 23 June 2019 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

by Mark Gleeson

Monday Aug 26, 2019. 08:00

Almost half of Tanzania’s squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in June have been dropped by new coach Etienne Ndairagije for next month’s World Cup qualifying tie against neighbours Burundi.

A total of 11 players were discarded as the Taifa Stars named a 30-man squad for the two legs on September 6 and 10.

Out go goalkeepers Aron Kalambo and Aishi Manula (Simba); defenders Aggrey Morris, Ally Mtoni and Vincent Phillipo; midfielders Feisal Salum, Mudathir Yahya and Yahya Zayd (Ismailia) and the striking trio of John Bocco, Rashid Mandawa and Thomas Ulimwengu.

Tanzania lost all three of their matches at the finals in Egypt, costing coach Emmanuel Amunike his job.

Returning are veteran goalkeeper Juma Kaseja and South African-based defender Abidi Banda, who missed the tournament in Egypt because of injury.

There is a first call up for the teenager Ally Nganzi, who signed for Minnesota United in Major League Soccer in April. He has come through the Tanzania junior teams and had a brief spell in the Czech Republic.

Also new is forward Eliuter Mpepo, who has spent the last two years at Buildon in Zambia.

Under-17 striker Kevin John, who Amunike had named in his preliminary squad for Egypt but then left out, gets another chance to impress.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Beno Kakolanya (Simba), Juma Kaseja (KMC), Metacha Mhata (Mbao)

Defenders: Abdi Banda (Highlands Park, South Africa), Mohammed Hussein (Simba), Shomary Kapombe (Simba), Hassan Kessy (Nkana FC, Zambia), Boniface Maganga (KMC), Baraka Majogoro (Polisi Tanzania), Gadiel Michael (Simba), Iddy Moby (Polisi Tanzania), Erasto Nyoni (Simba), Kelvin Yondani (Young Africans)

Midfielders: Frank Domayo (Azam), Mohamed Issa (Young Africans), Ayoub Lyanga (Coastal Union), Himid Mao (ENPPI, Egypt), Jonas Mkude (Simba), Farid Mussa (Tenerife, Spain), Iddy Nado (Azam FC), Ally Nganzi (Minnesota United, USA), Abubakar Salum (Azam)

Forwards: Shaban Idd Chilunda (Azam FC), Hassan Dilunga (Simba SC), Kevin John (unattached), Abdul Aziz Makame (Young Africans), Eliuter Mpepo (Buildon, Zambia), Simon Msuva (Difaa El Jadida, Morocco), Mbwana Samatta (Racing Genk, Belgium), Adi Yussuf (Blackpool, England).