Tusker FC forward Ibrahim Joshua has been handed his first call up to the Tanzania national football team, Taifa Stars, ahead of their upcoming friendly matches during the FIFA international break, the last in the 2021-22 season.Taifa Stars are set to play the Central African Republic on March 23, before playing their second friendly match against Sudan on March 29, both matches being played at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam.Joshua is among the 28 players expected to hit camp in preparations for the upcoming friendlies, a list that is dominated by Simba SC and Yanga SC with seven and six players respectively.Kikosi cha @taifastars_ kitakachoingia kambini kwa mechi za Kirafiki kwenye kalenda ya FIFA.#serengetilager_tz @taifastars_ @azamtvtz @tplboard pic.twitter.com/TMlKEmgG1T— TFF TANZANIA (@Tanfootball) March 15, 2022 There is also a fair share of players plying their trade outside the country led by Royal Antwerp’s Mbwanna Samatta, Genks’s Kevin John, Wydad Casablanca’s Simon Msuva, Israel-based Novatus Dismas, and the duo of Haji Mnoga and Ben Stakie both based in England.Joshua joined the defending champions in August last year alongside his compatriot Kalos Kirenge on a two-year deal and has been impressive for Robert Matano’s charges.In his maiden season in the Kenyan league, Joshua has so far managed to score eleven goals across all competitions, eight in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League, two in the CAF Champions League, and one in the FKF Super Cup.Congratulations to our striker Ibrahim Joshua who has been handed a debut call up to the Tanzanian national team ahead of their upcoming friendly matches. @Tanfootball pic.twitter.com/JC3Jm4oDIz— 🏆Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) March 15, 2022 His eight league goals are spread across six teams against Kenya Police, Bidco, Sofapaka, Wazito, Kariobangi, and even a hattrick against Mathare United in Tusker’s last match of 2021.Before he opened his league account for Tusker, the Tanzanian had scored twice in the CAF Champions League qualification round against Djibouti’s Arta Solar 7 in both home and away matches, and in the FKF Super Cup against Gor Mahia as Tusker won their first silverware of the campaign.
