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Association | Zanzibar Football Federation | ||
---|---|---|---|
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | CECAFA (Central & East Africa) | ||
Head coach | Hababuu Ali Omar | ||
Most caps | Suleiman Selembe (32) | ||
Top scorer | Abdallah Juma Ally (9) | ||
Home stadium | Amaan Stadium | ||
FIFA code | ZAN | ||
| |||
First international | |||
Tanganyika 3–1 Zanzibar (Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika; 18 September 1947) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Unofficial Zanzibar 6–0 Raetia (Arbil, Iraq; 4 June 2012) Official Zanzibar 4–0 Burundi (Mumias, Kenya; 29 November 2009) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Kenya 10–0 Zanzibar (Nairobi, Kenya; 4 October 1961) | |||
VIVA World Cup | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2012 ) | ||
Best result | Third place (2012) | ||
CECAFA Cup | |||
Appearances | 58 (first in 1947) | ||
Best result | Champions (1995) | ||
FIFI Wild Cup/ELF Cup | |||
Appearances | 2 (first in 2006 ) | ||
Best result | FIFI Wild Cup: Runners-up (2006) ELF Cup: Fourth place (2006) | ||
Mapinduzi Cup | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2025 ) | ||
Best result | Champions (2025) |
The Zanzibar national football team represents Zanzibar in international football and is controlled by the Zanzibar Football Federation.
Zanzibar is not a member of FIFA and is therefore not eligible to enter the World Cup. The island is part of the nation of the United Republic of Tanzania, which holds FIFA recognition at the international level. Prior to the union of Zanzibar and Tanganyika in 1964, Zanzibar was a fully independent member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), but never qualified for the African Nations Cup.
Zanzibar was a provisional member of the N.F.-Board. The team placed second in the 2006 FIFI Wild Cup tournament, losing 4–1 on penalties to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the final. For that tournament, they were coached by the German comedian Oliver Pocher.
Their U-20 team also played in the 2006 ELF Cup, finishing fourth of eight, winning one game (1–0 against Kyrgyzstan's national football team) and drawing twice (against Gagauzia and Greenland) before losing 5–0 to Northern Cyprus in the semifinal. They regularly play in the CECAFA Cup, which includes national teams from Central and East Africa, and in 1995 they became champions, winning the final match 1–0 against the host nation, Uganda.
In March 2017, Zanzibar were admitted to CAF, becoming its 55th member, [1] only for their membership to be rescinded four months later, with CAF president Ahmad Ahmad claiming the region should never have been admitted as it is not a sovereign nation. [2]
Zanzibar won their first international trophy with the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup after defeating Burkina Faso 2–1 in the final. [3]
3 January 2025 2025 Mapinduzi Cup GS | Zanzibar | 1–0 | Tanzania | Tanzania |
18:15 |
| Report | Stadium: Gombami Stadium |
6 January 2025 2025 Mapinduzi Cup GS | Zanzibar | 0–1 | Burkina Faso | Tanzania |
18:15 | Report |
| Stadium: Gombami Stadium |
10 January 2025 2025 Mapinduzi Cup GS | Zanzibar | 1–0 | Kenya | Tanzania |
18:15 |
| Report | Stadium: Gombami Stadium |
13 January 2025 2025 Mapinduzi Cup F | Zanzibar | 2–1 | Burkina Faso | Tanzania |
17:15 | Report |
| Stadium: Gombami Stadium |
Most appearances
| Top goalscorers
|
Zanzibar competed in the Gossage Cup from 1949 to 1967, when the competition was renamed to the East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup:
Gossage Cup record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
1947 | Fourth Place | 4th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
1948 | Third Place | 3rd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
1949 | Fourth Place | 4th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1950 | Fourth Place | 4th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
1951 | Third Place | 3rd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
1952 | Third Place | 3rd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
1953 | Third Place | 3rd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
1954 | Fourth Place | 4th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
1955 | Third Place | 3rd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | - |
1956 | Third Place | 3rd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
1957 | Third Place | 3rd | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
1958 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
1959 | Runners-Up | 2nd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
1960 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
1961 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 15 |
1962 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
1963 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
1964 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
1965 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 |
1966 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
Total | Runners-up | 20/37 | 41 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 37 | 141 |
East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA |
1967 | Third Place | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
1968 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
1969 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
1970 | Third Place | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
1971 | Fourth Place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Total | Third place | 5/5 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 41 |
CECAFA Cup record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA |
1973 | Group stage | 5th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
1974 | Third place | 3rd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
1975 | Group stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
1976 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
1977 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
1978 | Did not enter | |||||||
1979 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
1980 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
1981 | Group stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
1982 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
1983 | Group stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
1984 | Group stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
1985 | Did not enter | |||||||
1987 | Fourth slace | 4th | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
1988 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
1989 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
1990 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
1991 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
1992 | Group stage | 8th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
1994 | Did not enter | |||||||
1995 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
1996 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
1999 | Group stage | 10th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
2000 | Did not enter | |||||||
2001 | Group stage | 10th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
2002 | Group stage | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
2003 | Group stage | 5th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
2004 | Group stage | 7th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
2005 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
2006 | Group stage | 9th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
2007 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
2008 | Group stage | 8th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
2009 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
2010 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
2011 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
2012 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
2013 | Group stage | 9th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
2015 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
2017 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
2019 | Group stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Total | 1 title | 36/40 | 124 | 29 | 32 | 63 | 100 | 184 |
In March 2017, Zanzibar were admitted to the Confederation of African Football, becoming eligible for the Africa Cup of Nations. [1] The invitation was rescinded in July when FIFA rules forbade two teams from one nation. [2]
Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
African Cup of Nations | ||||||||
1957–1963 | Did not enter | |||||||
1965–2023 | Ineligible | |||||||
World tournaments record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
FIFI Wild Cup and ELF Cup | ||||||||
2006 | Runners-up | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
2006 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
VIVA World Cup | ||||||||
2006 | Did not enter | |||||||
2008 | ||||||||
2009 | ||||||||
2010 | ||||||||
2012 | Third Place | 3rd | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 4 |
CONIFA World Football Cup | ||||||||
2014 | Withdrew | |||||||
2016 | Did not enter | |||||||
2018 | ||||||||
Total | Third Place | 3/10 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 19 |
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