AFCON 2025: President Samia Suluhu Sends Special Plane to Bring Taifa Stars Home After Dismissal

• President Samia Suluhu has sent a special plane to bring back the players of the national team from Morocco
• Taifa Stars were eliminated from the Round of 16 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by the hosts on Sunday
• The government has planned a special event to congratulate the team for their great success in reaching the knockout round

President of Tanzania, Samia Solution Hassanhas sent a special plane to Morocco to bring the national men’s football team home.

Taifa Stars was eliminated on Sunday evening after losing against hosts Morocco in the third match of the Round of 16 in Rabat.

They failed to fight back as they upset the star-studded Atlas Lions for a long time. They lost in the second half after a brief moment of brilliance from Achraf Hakimi set up Brahim Diaz to score the only goal of the game.

Tanzania was playing in their first knockout game in the Africa Cup of Nations after going through as one of the biggest losers. They finished third in Group C with two points after losing to Nigeria and drawing with Uganda and Tunisia.

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Recognizing this important step, the government led by President Samia has sent a special plane to Rabat to bring the players and members of the technical bench home.

The Tanzanian government is sending a special plane to Morocco

The Chief Government Spokesman and Secretary General of the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Gerson Msigwa, has revealed new plans to welcome the players heroically.

The flight left Tanzania at about 4 pm on January 6, 2026 and is expected to arrive in Rabat at about 15:30 pm on the same day.

Then the plane will start the return journey on January 7, 2026, at 11:30 in the evening and is expected to arrive in Dar es Salaam on January 8 at 10 in the morning at Julius Nyerere International Airport.

“The change in plans is to allow the plane to arrive during the day to give everyone a chance to meet and congratulate the team,” Msigwa said in a statement via Instagram.

After that, President Samia will welcome the team to a government lunch at Magogoni Palace on Saturday, January 10.

“The purpose of this program is to continue to support and promote sports as a strategic activity for our country. Sports bring us respect, strengthen our economy, nurture athletes, attract businesses, create jobs for our youth, and above all, improve the health of Tanzanians.”

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Msigwa has called on Tanzanians to come out in large numbers to congratulate the team before AFCON 2027, which they will host together with Kenya and Uganda.

“Let’s remember that in 2027 we will host AFCON, and we will need a strong team. These are players who work hard and know that Tanzanians love them and support them wholeheartedly.”

The coach of Tanzania criticized the referee

At the same time, the head coach of Tanzania, Miguel Gamondi, criticized the referee who refused to go through the penalty decision against Morocco.

Iddy Nado was fouled by Adam Masina at the end of the game, but Tanzania was denied a penalty.

The penalty would have given them a chance to force the game into overtime.

Source: TUKO.co.ke