Yanga SC defender Nadir Haroub nicknamed Cannavaro after the Italian great has acknowledged a return to the Tanzania national team “Taifa Stars. Haroub is among Coach Boniface Mkwasa’s squad of twenty six to play neighbors Kenya in an international friendly on May 29 in Nairobi before locking horns with Egypt in the AFCON 2017 qualifier reverse tie on June 4 in Dar Es Salaam.

The veteran defender, native of Zanzibar retired from the national team in a huff this year after being stripped off the armband unceremoniously and handed over to the reigning African Player of the Year based in Africa Mbwana Samatta, a move which did not go down well with him; but it seems all that is now water under the bridge. Samatta formerly of TP Mazembe has since moved to GRC Genk in the Belgium Pro League after guiding the DR Congo heavyweights to a fifth CAF Champions League title.

Haroub is expected to slot in for Kelvin Yondani who is serving a suspension after picking two yellow cards from the previous qualifiers.

Stars in group “G” are as good as out of the road to Gabon 2017, same to other members of the group, Nigeria and Chad who withdrew half way through the campaign; the Pharaohs were among the first to secure slots in the continent’s biggest football bonanza.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Deo Munish ( Yanga), Aishi Manula (Azam) Benno Kakolanya ( Prisons).

Defenders:

Juma Abdul, Haji Mwinyi,Nadir Haroub (Yanga ), Erasto Nyoni, David Mwantika, Aggrey Morris ( Azam), Mohamed Tshabalala (Simba), Andrew Vicent ( Mtibwa Sugar).

Midfielders:

Hamid Mao, Farid Mussa ( Azam), Jonas Mkude, Mwinyi Kazimoto (Simba), Mohamed Ibrahim, Shiza Kichuya ( Mtibwa Sugar ),Hassan Kabunda ( Mwadui ), Juma Mahadhi (Coastal Union). Ismail Issa Juma ( JKU)

Strikers:

Elias Maguri ( Stand United), John Bocco ( Azam) Ibrahim Hajib ( Simba), Mbwana Samatta ( Genk GRC, Ubelgiji), Thomas Ulimwengu ( TP Mazembe)

@bonfaceosano

Bonface Osano

African Football Writer contributing @Soka25east | Commentator; appeared on @MySoccerAfrica, @KweseSports, @ntvkenya, others | Keen follower of African Football. E-mail: bonfaceosano@gmail.com