The way back ran through a neighbour. On the last day of qualifying for Egypt 2019, Tanzania beat group winners Uganda 3–0 in Dar es Salaam to take second place. In Cairo, Simon Msuva and Mbwana Samatta both scored in a 3–2 defeat by Kenya, and at Côte d’Ivoire 2023 the side drew with Zambia and DR Congo.
Morocco 2025 was the breakthrough. Miguel Gamondi, appointed only weeks before the tournament, took a team shaped by the country’s leading clubs to draws with Uganda and Tunisia; Feisal Salum’s equaliser against Tunisia sent Tanzania into the knockout rounds for the first time as one of the best third-placed teams. Hosts Morocco won the round-of-16 tie 1–0 in Rabat.
The next finals will be partly theirs. Tanzania co-host AFCON 2027 with Kenya and Uganda — CAF’s first three-nation tournament, from 19 June to 17 July 2027 — and their place is secured. In qualifying Group L with Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau only the best-placed of the other three qualifies; the Taifa Stars open at home to Guinea-Bissau on 25 September 2026.