Tanzania’s national team, Taifa Stars, will take on Guinea-Bissau today, Friday, September 25, 2026, at New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar in a Group L match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The match is scheduled to kick off at 4:00pm East Africa Time.
Although Tanzania have already secured their place at AFCON 2027 as one of the tournament’s co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda, the match is important for Taifa Stars as they continue building a squad for the finals. Under the CAF qualification format, Tanzania have been placed in Group L alongside Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Under the qualification rules, Tanzania, as a co-host, will not need to qualify for the tournament through the group. Instead, the highest-placed team among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will earn the additional qualification spot from Group L.
Gamondi Wants Genuine Competition
Taifa Stars head coach Miguel Angel Gamondi has said the team will not treat the qualifying matches as ordinary preparations despite Tanzania already having qualified for AFCON 2027.
Gamondi has stressed the importance of using these matches to build the team, strengthen the players’ understanding and prepare for the competition at the AFCON finals to be held in East Africa.
The match against Guinea-Bissau will also give Gamondi an opportunity to continue assessing his players, with the squad strengthened by players based outside Tanzania. Among those who have joined the Stars camp are Simon Msuva, Kibu Dennis, Cyprian Kachwele and Sabri Kondo.
Striker Bernard Kamungo, who plays for FC Dallas in the United States, is also among the new players in the Stars squad for this international window.
Guinea-Bissau Also Seeking a Strong Start
For Guinea-Bissau, the match marks the beginning of an important campaign for a team that did not participate in AFCON 2025 after qualifying for the tournament four consecutive times from 2017 to 2023.
Guinea-Bissau are in the same group as Nigeria and Madagascar, meaning every point will be important in the race for the only additional qualification place from Group L.
Stars Head to Madagascar
After the Zanzibar match, Taifa Stars will travel to Morocco to face Madagascar on September 29 in their second Group L match. Madagascar will use Morocco as their home venue for the fixture.
AFCON 2027 will be held from June 19 to July 17, 2027, with Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda serving as joint hosts of the tournament.
Although Tanzania already have their ticket secured, the clash at New Amaan Complex gives Gamondi and Taifa Stars an opportunity to begin building a team capable of meeting the challenges of AFCON 2027.
