Tanzania return for a third time to the COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship hoping to go one better than their silver medal they picked up in 2021 when the latest edition is staged in Durban from March 17-23.
The East African guest nation have a long history in all COSAFA competitions, male and female and through all age-groups, and that includes the beach championship.
They made it all the way to the final before losing to Mozambique in the decider three years ago.
But it was still a successful tournament that showcased their quality on the sand and they will be back at this year’s event hoping to turn silver into gold.
Tanzania drew 4-4 with Mozambique in their group opener in 2021 but lost the tie on penalties, before beating Comoros 2-1 to finish second in the pool and earn a place in the semifinals.
There they defeated a strong Angola side 5-2 in arguably their best showing of the tournament, but came unstuck again against Mozambique in the decider as they went down 3-1.
Their top scorer was Abdulkadir Tabib, who netted five goals, just ahead of Stephano Mapunda, who had four.
They were back a year later but this time won one of their three pool games and did not make the knockout rounds.
They lost to Uganda (2-4) and Egypt (3-4), before a 5-2 victory over Mauritius at least meant they went home with a win.
The team first qualified for the continental finals in 2018 but it proved a chastening experience as they lost all three pool matches to Libya (2-5), Senegal (2-12) and Nigeria (2-4).
They were then beaten 5-2 by Madagascar in the play-off for final positions, but a 6-5 extra-time victory over Libya made sure they avoided the wooden spoon.
Tanzania returned to the tournament in 2021 but again lost both pool matches, 3-4 to Uganda and 1-3 to Senegal, at least providing a closer contest this time round.
That put them into the play-off for fifth, but they lost 2-4 to Egypt.
They failed to reach the 2022 continental finals when they were stunned by Malawi in the qualifiers, the teams ending 8-8 on aggregate but their opponents winning on the away goals rule.
TANZANIA AT THE 2021 COSAFA BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
MP W L GF GA
4 2 2 12 10
Results:
Group Stages
Tanzania (3)4-4(4) Mozambique
Tanzania 2-1 Comoros
Semifinals
Tanzania 5-2 Angola
Final
Tanzania 1-3 Mozambique
TANZANIA AT THE 2022 COSAFA BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
MP W L GF GA
3 1 2 10 10
Results:
Group Stages
Tanzania 2-4 Uganda
Tanzania 3-4 Egypt
Mauritius 2-5 Tanzania
TANZANIA AT THE BEACH AFCON
APP MP W L GF GA
2 8 1 7 20 42
Finishes
2018 – Seventh
2021 – Sixth
