Tanzania Under-17 head coach Elieneza Nsanganzelu believes his side’s remarkable journey to the final of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations is proof that Tanzania and East Africa possess the talent to compete with the continent’s elite.
The Serengeti Boys will face defending champions Senegal in Tuesday’s final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat after becoming the first Tanzanian team to reach the final of a continental youth tournament.
Having already secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Tanzania surpassed expectations by defeating both Algeria and Egypt in penalty shootouts to book their place in the final.
For Nsanganzelu, the achievement is the product of long-term planning rather than fortune.
“There is no miracle. It is about investment, bringing players together, training and training, scouting and scouting, competing and competing. That is what has brought us here,” he said.
The coach revealed that Tanzania’s initial objective was simply to qualify for the World Cup.
“Our first dream was to qualify for the World Cup. That was our target when we left Tanzania. After we qualified, we trusted the process and said we would take it one match at a time and see how far we could go.”
According to Nsanganzelu, achieving that goal transformed the mentality of everyone connected to the team.
“Achieving the first stage gave us the strength to keep fighting until this point. The belief became stronger among the players, staff, administrators, fans and the government.”
A key figure in Tanzania’s run has been 14-year-old forward Dismas Shida Athanasi, who has emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers.
However, Nsanganzelu was quick to emphasise the collective nature of his team.
“What we have been building from the start is the team. Dismas is part of the team. Anyone can score goals. It is not a one-man show.”
The coach believes the youngster has enormous potential but warned against allowing external attention to distract him.
“Now there is a lot of noise from everywhere ; the media, agents and clubs. My advice is to stick to what he was doing before and remain part of the team.”
Nsanganzelu also used Tanzania’s success to highlight the untapped potential of football in East Africa.
“In Tanzania and East Africa, there is a lot of potential and a lot of talent. What we are missing is the establishment of a proper pathway.”
He called on federations and governments across the region to increase investment in youth development.
“They must invest in academies, development centres, coaching education, scouting and proper competitions. If we do that, we can have strong national teams in the future.”
Looking ahead to the final, the coach acknowledged Senegal’s pedigree but insisted his side will not be intimidated.
“Senegal are a strong opponent and have a big name in football. But at the level we have reached now, we can also say Tanzania are becoming a big football nation.”
He remains confident that Tanzania can challenge the West Africans.
“In football, 11 players from Senegal will come onto the pitch and 11 players from Tanzania will also come onto the pitch. That gives us equality. Whoever does better will win the match.”
To lift the trophy, Nsanganzelu believes his players must remain composed and faithful to their identity.
“We need to stick to our strategy. We need to be calm, stay away from pressure and play our game. If we do that, we can bring the trophy to our country.”
As Tanzania prepare for the biggest match in their youth football history, the coach hopes their journey inspires a new generation across East Africa.
“To every child out there, believe in yourself. Keep training and your dreams will come true.”
