Tanzania coach Charles Mkwasa has named a 25-man squad for the 2017 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad.

The Group G clash will take place on Wednesday, 23 March 2016 in N’djamena before the two teams lock horns four days later in Dar es Salaam.

The Taifa Stars lost 3-0 away to Egypt in the opening round before settling for a barren stalemate with Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the second match played in Dar es Salaam last September.

The squad which includes only two foreign based players, Mbwana Samatta who has been confirmed as the new skipper and Thomas Ulimwengu, is expected to be trimmed down to a final squad of 20.

Midfielder Mwinyi Kazimoto and Azam defender Erasto Nyoni have been recalled.

Prison striker Jeremiah Mgunda, midfielders Shiza Kichuya, Mohamed Ibrahim and Ismail Juma are the only new recruits in the squad dominated by familiar faces.

The Taifa Stars coach has described the double-header with Chad must win encounters to keep their qualification dream alive.

Due to the ongoing Tanzania Premier League, the team won’t go into residential camp.

“There will be no time to train as a group. I urge all called players to conduct themselves in the utmost professional manner to maintain their fitness level,” said Mkwasa told Soka25east.com

The team is expected to depart for N’Djamena on Sunday, 20 March 2016 to be joined by the final continent 24-hours later.

The Taifa Stars are currently third with one point, three points behind second placed Nigeria and five points behind leaders Egypt.

Tanzania squad

Goalkeepers: Aishi Manula (Azam), Ally Mustapha ( Yanga ), Shaban Kado ( Mwadui)

Defenders: Shomari Kapombe,Erasto Nyoni, David Mwantika (Azam) Mwinyi Haji, Juma Abdul, Kelvin Yondani (Yanga), Mohamed Hussein (Simba)

Midfielders: Jonas Mkude, Mwinyi Kazimoto, Said Ndemla (Simba), Himid Mao, Farid Mussa (Azam), Mohamed Ibrahim, Shiza Kichuya (Mtibwa Sugar ),  Ismail Issa Juma (JKU),  Deus Kaseke (Yanga)

Forwards: Ibrahim Hajibu (Simba), John Bocco (Azam), Mbwana Samatta (KRC Genk, Belgium), Thomas Ulimwengu (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Elias Maguli ( Stand United ), Jeremiah Mgunda ( Prisons)

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com