Ex-Villa star Mbwana to captain Tanzania
Tanzania captain Mbwana Samatta has been recalled to the national team squad squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The striker, who turns 33 later this month, won the last of his 75 caps for Tanzania a year ago but returns in a 28-man selection, which the Tanzania Football Federation announced on social media.
Samatta, who previously played at Aston Villa, is one of eight foreign-based players in the squad, which also includes English-born Haji Mnoga from League Two outfit Salford City and Tarryn Allarakhia, who plays at English minor-league side Rochdale.
All three were in Tanzania’s squad at the last finals in the Ivory Coast, where it drew two games and lost one and finished bottom of it group.
Coach Miguel Gamondi, appointed last month, has dropped experienced midfielder Mudathir Yahya but included the uncapped Kelvin Nashon.
Tanzania will compete in Group C at the tournament and will take on Nigeria in its opening game on 23 December. It will also meet neighbours Uganda and Tunisia in the group.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Zuberi Foba (Azam), Hussein Masaraga (Singida Black Stars), Yakoub Suleiman (Simba)
Defenders: Ibrahim Abdullah, Mohamed Hussein, Dickson Job (all Young Africans), Shomari Kapombe (Simba), Nickson Kibabage (Singida Black Stars), Haji Mnoga (Salford City), Lusajo Mwaikenda (Azam), Bakari Mwamnyeto (Young Africans), Pascal Msindo (Azam), Wilson Nangu (Simba)
Midfielders: Morice Abraham (Simba), Tarryn Allarakhia (Rochdale), Novatus Dismas (Göztepe), Habibu Idd (Singida Black Stars), Yusuph Kagoma (Simba), Alphonce Mabula (Shamakhi), Charles M’Mombwa (Floriana), Kelvin Nashon (Pamba Jiji), Feisal Salum (Azam)
Forwards: Kibu Denis (Simba), Kelvin John (Aalborg, Denmark), Simon Msuva (Al Talaba), Mbwana Samatta (Le Havre, France), Abdul Suleiman, Iddi Suleiman (both Azam)
