Tanzania say farewell to WC playoffs after home loss to Avram Grant's Zambia
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 09.10.25. | 00:25
Fashion Sakala scored the only goal of the game, which was the Taifa Stars' last qualifying tie (0-1)
After defeating Zambia on their soil in June 2024, in the fourth round of the World Cup African Preliminary Qualifiers, Tanzania were on the perfect road to reaching (at least) the WC playoffs.
They had nine points to their name in Group E, and back-to-back home games against Niger and Zambia to seal that playoff ticket.
80,Tanzania 🇹🇿 0️⃣ - 1️⃣ 🇿🇲 Zambia #FIFAWorldCupQualifier| @taifastars_ @FIFAWorldCup @CAF_Online pic.twitter.com/pj1IOsWZqL
— TFF TANZANIA (@Tanfootball) October 8, 2025
Alas, the Taifa Stars' dreams were shattered in the meantime, as they lost to Morocco away (2-0), failed to beat Congo Republic (1-1) and then lost to Niger at home (0-1). Finally, they sealed that awful streak on Wednesday night with a disappointing 1-0 home loss to Zambia.
The visiting side, led by the former Chelsea boss Avram Grant, got their revenge for losing the reverse leg thanks to Fashion Sakala's second-half winner.
The experienced forward scored the decisive goal fifteen minutes from time, keeping Tanzania in third place with no chance of reaching the playoffs. Morocco booked their WC ticket long ago by topping the group, while Niger will dream big after reaching second place with a routine 3-1 home win over the Congo Republic. The decision will be made in the last battle between Zambia and Niger on Sunday. The former need to celebrate a two-goal win to progress to the next round.
WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 9
Wednesday
Eswatini - Angola 2-2 (0-0)
/Figuareido 48,54 - Buatu 69, Papel 80/
Ethiopia - Guinea B. 1-0 (1-0)
/James 27/
Libya - Cape Verde 3-3 (2-1)
/Lopes 1 og, Al Mariami 42, Al Shalui 58 - Arcanjo 29, Cabral 76, Semedo 82/
Mauritius - Cameroon 0-2 (0-0)
/Ngameleu 57, Mbeumo 90+2/
Central African Republic - Ghana 0-5 (0-1)
/Salisu 20, Partey 52, Djiku 69, Ayew 71, Sulemana 87/
Chad - Mali 0-2 (0-0)
/Doumbia 19, 74/
Comores - Madagascar 1-2 (0-1)
/Said 81 - Couturier 11, Raheriniaina 73/
Djibouti - Egypt 0-3 (0-2)
/Adel 8, Salah 14, 84/
Sierra Leone - Burkina Faso 0-1 (0-1)
/Zougrana 42/
Niger - Congo 3-1 (1-0)
/Sosah 45+3, Oumarou 49, Adebayor 67 - Bassinga 90+4/
Tanzania - Zambia 0-1 (0-0)
/Sakala 75/
