Tanzania’s national football team Taifa Stars’ Vice Captain, Simon Msuva, has failed to join the team’s training camp due to ongoing security concerns in the Middle East.
He will not be part of the squad for this tournament due to travel disruptions caused by the prevailing security situation in the region arising from Israel-US war with Iran.
Taifa Stars head coach Miguel Gamondi confirmed that Msuva was unable to secure a flight out of Iraq, where he plays professional football, forcing him to remain there and miss the upcoming FIFA Series tournament scheduled to take place in Rwanda later this month.
Msuva, who has been playing for the five times Iraqi top flight league champions Al Talaba since 2024, is one of the key players in the Taifa Stars squad who was was named the 2025 AFCON player of the match following Tanzania’s 1-1 draw with Uganda.
He scored from the penalty spot in their 2025 AFCON 1–1 draw against Uganda, drawing level with Mrisho Ngasa on 25 goals as his country’s joint all-time leading scorer.
Tanzania has been drawn in Group B of the intercontinental tournament, with all matches scheduled in Kigali. The Taifa Stars will begin their campaign on March 26 with a high-profile clash against European side Liechtenstein.
They will then face Aruba from the Caribbean (CONCACAF) and Macau representing Asia (AFC) in subsequent fixtures.
All matches will be staged at the newly renovated Amahoro Stadium and Kigali Pelé Stadium, offering a world-class platform for the cross-continental tournament.
Tanzania squad for FIFA Series;
Goalkeepers: Aishi Manula (Azam FC), Yona Amosi (Pamba Jiji), Zuberi Foba (Azam FC).
Defenders: Mohamed Mussa (Mashujaa FC), Twalib Nuru (Azam FC), Bakari Msimu (Coastal Union), Elias Lameck (Azam FC), Haji Mnoga (Salford City, England), Nickson Kibabage (Simba SC), Bakari Mwamnyeto (Young Africans), Mohamed Hussein (Young Africans), Ibrahim Abdulla (Young Africans).
Midfielders: Yusuph Kagoma (Simba SC), Kelvin Nashon (Pamba Jiji), Mudathir Yahya (Young Africans), Novatus Dismas (Göztepe FC, Turkey), Feisal Salum (Azam FC), Charles M’mombwa (Floriana FC, Malta), Tarryn Allarakhia (Rochdale AFC, England), Alphonce Mabula (Shamakhi, Azerbaijan).
Forwards: Saimon Msuva (Al-Talaba, Iraq), Suleiman Mwalimu (Simba SC), Kelvin John (Aalborg BK, Denmark), Iddi Suleiman (Azam FC), Paul Peter (JKT Tanzania).
