"From Outsiders to Contenders: Taifa-stars's AFCON Qualification and the Changing Face of the Tanzania's football scene"

The first time Tanzania played in Afcon was 1980, it took 39 years to qualify for the second time in 2019. But for the 3rd time it took less than five years, is this luck or there’s a secret ingredient? Go with me, a brief breakdown.

The Taifa-stars story is just the tip of an iceberg, the real story lies in in the Tanzanian commercial league. Ranked at #5 of Africa’s top-10 most competitive leagues. The Tanzanian premier league now known as #NBCPremierLeague it is the only league in Sub-Sahara broadcasting all games in live-HD . Recently the league has demonstrated;

> Growing competition. > Massive fans engagement (offline & online)

> Fastest digital penetration > Attracting multiple brands

I should remind you,

Tanzania is home to the twins of Kariakoo, the biggest derby in East and Central Africa, Simba & Yanga, who have just displayed massive quality in CAFCC & CAFCL tournaments recently. Starting with Yanga their last footprint milestones in CAF was years ago only to surprise the world by their massive rise in 2022/23 season beating giants from West, North, Central and South Africa to the finals of CAFCC 2022/23.

Rivals Simba SC, consecutively in four seasons been playing in CAF & CAFCC and CAF CL 3rd Runner 2022/23. Recently they have been ranked in the cream of Africa teams selected to play in Africa’s super league, the top of Africa's commercial football.

Meanwhile the Tanzania women U-18 team, JKT Queens, CAF Women Championship, CECAFA's trophy, Tanzania winning it in two years consecutively, 2022,2023 tournaments.

Without forgetting the Tanzania's U-17 Serengeti Queens who went to the U-17 world cup and painted a colorful performance beating Europeans like clock-work.

At this point we all agree this is not just a coincidence anymore.

Now, what’s the secret ingredient?

Football is not just art and game of talents, there’s science and economics, which defines a pattern of similarities across the world where football has prospered. What are these ingredients?

According to the book Soccernomics, by by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski football dominance is directly related to growth and transformation in industrialization, investment, political influence, population size etc.

A case study on the giants industrial cities of Europe such as Munich, Turin, Manchester, Barcelona, Porto all have birthed iconic football teams. Madrid & Benfica were mostly pushed by political affiliation mostly from 1950’s – 1960’s.

Research shows, from 1963 – 2017, teams from most industrialized cities of Manchester, Barcelona, Turin, Dotmund, Munich, Porto etc have pocketed majority of European trophies.

Why is this?

Further analysis to this trend displays that, massive industrialization attracts, investments, population growth and creates excessive economic catalyst to invest in football teams and fostering talents. These regions were able to attract great talents from Brazil, Argentina and poor European villages while inspiring their locals to brush their talent to match with the foreigners who migrated for economic benefits. We have seen a growing trend of Tanzanian football attracting great talents from across Africa and beyond.

But how did Tanzania manage to finance this?

Looking at Sub Saharan Africa, Tanzania is the fastest growing industrialist; a home to the massive growing industrialist brands like AZAM, MeTL, Super Group etc who are massively exercising competition in multiple sectors across the Sub Sahara and this is just the beginning. There is more where these brands are coming from, a story for another day.

Giant industrialist like Azam group, MeTL, Kagera Sugar, Mtibwa Sugar, GSM, Quality Group, TBL, Vodacom, Serengeti are a testimony to how industrialist are essential catalyst for football growth. Now you can relate how the brands mentioned have in one way or the other directly or partially been involved in the Tanzanian football landscape.

Specifically Azam group revolutionary investment with TFF has recently transformed ligikuu visibility, uplifting the BRAND image of the clubs and boosting economic opportunity for clubs & visibility of players to the global market.

In less than 5 years since the deal in 2021/22 we are seeing massive receipts in the quality of the game, economic benefits, attracting A-list players and more financiers who wants the piece of the pie. Meanwhile Mo of MeTL’s appetite and investment in Simba has pushed the club's image in African football and inspired formalization in local teams, a facelift attracting more investors to these clubs.

Recent political efforts of using football as economic diplomacy by Her Excellency has delivered outstanding impacts across the region. Seeing clubs launching kit in state house and witnessing a Presidential support on the launching of a new season! These are clinical endorsements demonstrating the government appetite to boost the sector !

It is with no doubt this is just the beginning of the Tanzanian football success trajectory. Impressed how football economic diplomacy is recently catching fire with clubs filling tour-bus ready for regional tourism!

In Tanzania football is a religion, today out of three most listened radio programs two will be sports programs. We don’t just love football we breathe football.

Viva Taifa stars on a silent night in Algiers they turn doubters to believers as they built impeccable defense to Algerian eagles giving us a third foot in the AFCON. What a time to be alive! We are thankful for the quality brought by players who are playing in international leagues.

On the road to hosting AFCON in East Africa we dedicate this to our neighbors may this be the beginning of a colorful future for sports in the region. Mungu Ibariki Tanzania , Kazi Iendelee. A welcome to the Africa Super League!

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