Exclusive: Amuneke Hails Progress in Tanzanian Football Ahead of AFCON 2025

Former head coach of Tanzania's national football team, Emmanuel Amuneke, has expressed confidence in the Taifa Stars’ ability to make a significant impact at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

This optimism follows Tanzania’s qualification for the tournament, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s footballing history.

Historic Qualification for AFCON

Tanzania secured their place at the continent’s premier football tournament with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Syli Nationale of Guinea in final Group game at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar Es Salaam back in November.

Heading into the crucial encounter, Tanzania needed a win to confirm their qualification, while favourite their visitors required only a draw to secure their spot.

The Guineans threatened several time through Mady Camara and Borussia Dortmund of Germany forward Serhou Guirassy, but the Taifa Stars took control in the second half and eventually ran out 1-0 winners courtesy of Simon Msuva's header from inside the six-yard box in the 61st minute.

The results ensure they finished second in Group H with ten points behind Congo Democratic Republic and secured their fourth AFCON appearance.

This recent achievement is Tanzania’s fourth appearance at AFCON and their second consecutive qualification, a milestone achieved in over four decades.

Amuneke’s Praise for the Taifa Stars

Emmanuel Amuneke, shared his excitement over the team’s achievement. “I am truly excited and happy for them,” he told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview. “I followed their matches and I think their victory against Ethiopia put them in a strong position to qualify, and their win over Guinea sealed the deal.

"The game against Guinea was not easy, considering the fact that the Guineans have one of the best attackers in Africa. Tanzania did well keeping them away from their goal. It is such a difficult thing to do because not many team succeeded in shutting them out.

"They must continue improving, winning crucial matches, and preparing well for the challenges ahead,” Amuneke added.

Recognition for Head Coach Hemed Suleiman

Amuneke reserved special praise for Taifa Stars head coach Hemed Suleiman, who played a vital role in the team’s success.

Suleiman, a former assistant to Amuneke, took over the team after Algerian coach Adel Amrouche was dismissed by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF).

Amrouche was hit eight (8) matches ban and $10000 fine by the Confederation of African Football CAF after he accused Moroccan FA (RMFF) of influencing and manipulating African football after losing 3-0 to the Atlas Lions.

Under Suleiman’s guidance, Tanzania recovered and demonstrated resilience with a newfound belief in their abilities, ushering a period of steady progress for the nation’s football.

“The coach (Hemed Suleiman) is crucial to the success of this team. We worked together to return Tanzania to AFCON after 39 years in 2019,” Amuneke said.

“It was a difficult job, but the experience he gained under while working with me has clearly propelled him to achieve this remarkable feat. I am proud of what he has accomplished with the team. He is a great coach, and the future is bright.”

Progress in Tanzanian Football

Tanzania’s back-to-back qualifications for AFCON highlight a broader transformation within the nation’s football.

This growth is also evident in the increasing number of Tanzanian players gaining exposure in professional leagues, which has helped raise the overall quality of the team.

Stars like Mbwana Samatta, who has played in Europe’s top leagues, serve as role models for aspiring footballers in the country. Amuneke reflected on the changes he observed during his tenure and the strides made since.

“During my time there, the situation was quite different. They had very few professional players, with most coming from just three clubs: Simba, Yanga, and another team. But things have changed significantly, and there is visible development,” he explained.

East Africa’s Rising Football Power

Tanzania’s qualification highlights the growing prominence of East African nations in African football. Alongside Tanzania, Sudan and Uganda will also represent the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) at AFCON 2025.

Sudan overcame challenges posed by the ongoing civil war, playing their home games in Libya, and finished second in Group F to qualify.

Uganda, on the other hand, secured their spot with a game to spare, finishing second in Group K with 13 points behind South Africa. “East African football is clearly on the rise,” Amuneke stated.

“In 2019, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and another team qualified for AFCON, and seeing these teams consistently return is a testament to the growth of the game in the region. It shows that countries embracing new development models are reaping the rewards.

"Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan's qualifications for AFCON 2025 is a testament to the growth of football in the country and the East African region.

“For these countries to qualify while strong teams like Ghana and Guinea failed is remarkable. But the journey doesn’t end there. They must continue to invest in infrastructure, coaching, and talent development to sustain this progress.

"With a strong squad, capable leadership, and a growing football culture, they can make their mark on the continental stage."

Tanzania’s Path Forward

Tanzania’s previous AFCON campaigns, in Egypt 2019 and Côte d’Ivoire 2023, ended in disappointment as they failed to progress beyond the group stage.

However, Amuneke believes the current squad, led by captain Mbwana Samatta, forward Clement Mzize, and goalkeeper Ally Salim, has the experience and talent to achieve better results.

“They need to believe in themselves,” Amuneke said. “Last year in Côte d’Ivoire, they participated but failed to progress from the group stage. However, simply qualifying for the tournament was an invaluable experience.”

Amuneke who won the tournament as a player with Nigeria in 1994 concluded that the team’s growing cohesion and tactical discipline would be critical in achieving success.

“This time, I hope they make it to the knockout phase. They have the potential to do so, and achieving that would be a fantastic milestone for them.”

Amuneke managed Tanzania between August 2018 and July 2019. The Taifa Stars recorded three victories, two defeats and six defeats of their 11 games under the 1994 African footballer of the year winner.