Feisal Salum: Why Nigeria must silence Tanzania’s key creator in Uyo

Feisal Salum is the Tanzania player Nigeria must contain when the Super Eagles face the Taifa Stars in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo at 17:00 WAT on Friday.

The 28-year-old Azam FC midfielder, widely known in Tanzania as Fei Toto, is the main creative force in Miguel Gamondi’s team and has started all six of the country’s qualifiers. According to a scouting report published by Afrik-Foot on 9 November, Salum also provided an assist in Tanzania’s most recent match.

Salum usually operates as an attacking midfielder, but he is equally capable of dropping deeper to receive possession. That versatility gives head coach Gamondi different options in midfield and makes it difficult for opponents to decide how best to mark him.

He is one of six midfielders named in Tanzania’s 24-man squad for the double-header. The others are his Azam FC team-mate Himid Mao, Truro City’s England-based Ben Starkie, Charles M’Mombwa, Sheikhan Khamis and Cyprian Kachwele.

The home-based player at the heart of Tanzania’s attack

Much of the focus surrounding Tanzania’s squad has been on its players based overseas.

Veteran striker Simon Msuva, now 33 and playing for Iraqi club Newroz SC, is among the most experienced members of the group. FC Dallas winger Bernard Kamungo has also attracted attention and could make his Tanzania debut in Uyo after previously representing the United States.

Salum, however, has established his reputation in Tanzania with Azam FC and remains the player through whom much of the team’s attacking play is organised. Gamondi has spoken positively about his side’s confidence before the trip, and Salum is central to that belief.

Tanzania have already secured their place at the 2027 finals as co-hosts alongside Uganda and Kenya, meaning they are not under qualification pressure. Nigeria face a more demanding situation after following a 2-1 victory over Madagascar with a 3-0 defeat by Guinea-Bissau.

How Nigeria can limit Salum

Afrik-Foot’s assessment is that Nigeria must deny Salum time and space between the lines. His positioning could have a major influence on how the match develops.

When he moves deeper to collect the ball, he can draw a holding midfielder out of position. If he remains further forward, he can operate in the space between Nigeria’s midfield and defence.

A coordinated high press would force Salum to spend more time pursuing the ball than creating with it, while also disrupting the supply to Tanzania’s forwards. But if Nigeria allow him to play, he will have opportunities to release Msuva into attacking positions or use Kamungo’s pace behind the full-backs.

Nigeria have never lost to Tanzania, and won the most recent meeting 2-1 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Yet Tanzania arrive without the burden of qualification pressure, and a draw in Uyo would make Nigeria’s pursuit of Group L leaders Guinea-Bissau more difficult before Tuesday’s second leg in Tanzania.