THE national amputee football team (Tembo Warriors) is expected to fly tomorrow to Cairo, Egypt where it will compete in this year's edition of the African Amputee Football Cup of Nations (AAFCON).

Zaharani Mwenyemti, who is the team’s manager, said Tembo Warriors will be flagged off today by the National Sports Council (NSC) officials in Dar es Salaam..

He said all preparations for the team’s trip are over and he is confident the team will do well at the Championship.

“All is set for Tembo Warriors trip to Cairo for the AAFCON finals, which are slated to kick off this weekend to end of the month. We are confident the team will do well at the Championship,'' he said.

The team has been attending residential trainings in Arusha for more than one month and this is the third time that the country is competing in the AAFCON finals which are organized by Confederation of African Amputee Football (CAAF). 

 The first time was in 2019 and the following year (2020) when the finals were hosted by Angola. 

 In the two finals the national amputee team, which is known as Tembo Warriors, finished in the fourth position.

 Players making the team are Bashara Alombile, Hassan Ame, Ali Abdallah, Abdul Amiri, Anthony Manumbu, Richard Swai, Alifack Msomi, Juma Kidevu and Emmanuel Nakaru .

Others are Saleh Mwipi, Kassim Mbaruku, Salimu Bakari, Rodgers Kadala, Akhafan Kiyanga and Frank Ngairo.

The technical panel is made of Salvatory Edward as head coach, Khalfan Mbonde, who doubles as assistant head coach and goalkeepers’ trainer, Robert Manyerere is the technical director, team doctor is Abdallah Suleiman and Zaharani, who is the team manager.

Leaders who will accompany the team to Cairo are Tanzania Amputee Football Federation (TAFF) president Vincent Kaduma, his vice Athuman Lubandama and secretary general Idd Lulinda.

The finals will be used as 2026 World Cup qualifiers and have attracted 19 African teams and the draw will be made today.

Meanwhile, Mwenyemti hailed the government for its full support of amputee football in the country and promised that Tembo Warriors will fight for honors at the finals.

He said this upcoming tournament will be another important milestone to showcase the excellence of our players to the fans and the society in Africa and the world.