Nizar Khalfan Called Up To Tanzanian National Team For Africa Cup Of Nations Qualifying

by Scott Kessler on Feb 21, 2012 10:58 AM EST in News

VANCOUVER, CANADA - OCTOBER 6: Nizar Khalfan #16 of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC celebrates his goal in the second half against Real Salt Lake at the Bell Pitch at BC Place Oct 6, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His goal made the score 3-0. (Photo by Kim Stallknecht/Getty Images)

Tanzania's coach Jan Poulsen has called up the Philadelphia Union's Nizar Khalfan to the country's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying squad.

The 23-year-old will be available to play for his national team against Mozambique on February 29, which just so happens to be on the same day as both the United States Men's National Team (USMNT)-Italy friendly, and the Chile-Ghana friendly at the Union's PPL Park. He may also appear in a possible friendly against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Union striker Danny Mwanga is originally from, in Dar es Saalaam on February 23.

Khalfan has been a mainstay on the Tanzanian national team since 2006, when he was only 18, making 25 appearances and scoring five goals for the African country.

The midfielder joined the Union through MLS's Waiver Draft, after Khalfan was let go by the Vancouver Whitecaps after playing in 22 games and scoring once in 2011.

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Call Up

I’m not familiar with the Africa CoN schedule. Is this likely to affect his MLS playing time in the future?

by MP Stewart on Feb 21, 2012 12:01 PM EST reply actions

Playing time?

With as much depth as we have, are we sure that we will even see much of him in the mid field this year? Maybe around the Olympics?

<----------- Crazier than a shit house rat

by Jerral Wayne Jones on Feb 21, 2012 12:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Speed option

Could be a nice speed option off the bench to run at tired defenses. Speed wasn’t too abundant on the squad last year.

by sjm003 on Feb 22, 2012 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

Ixnay on that one.

by sjm003 on Feb 22, 2012 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

Let me rephrase. Is this likely to affect his MLS availability in the future?

by MP Stewart on Feb 21, 2012 2:18 PM EST reply actions

It depends on whether or not they progress...

or if he is called up again.

Managing Editor for Brotherly Game, SBNation's Philadelphia Union blog and contributor for SBN Philly. // @scottdkessler
"College is only 4 years, but the Eagles are for life." - Ironhank

by Scott Kessler on Feb 21, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Cup of Nations

The second leg of this series versus Mozambique is June 15. Union play on 6/16, so it would affect that game.

If Tanzania advances, the next round of games is on Sept 7-9 and Oct 12-14. At this point in time, those weekends are free for Union and wouldn’t affect his availability for the team. However, sometimes league games get moved into those slots (generally to accommodate international friendlies over the summer or rarely due to postponed games for weather or other reasons).

The actual tournament proper will be held in Jan/Feb 2013 and so his participation won’t impact his playing with Union.

by Laaaaazzz on Feb 21, 2012 6:18 PM EST up reply actions

Khalfan waived.

Source. Interesting move, particularly right after he left for the African CoN. This frees up another international slot, but what the Union will do with it is anybody’s guess. Would they waive Khalfan without a plan to use the int’l spot? I’m leaning no.

by trz on Feb 22, 2012 7:03 PM EST reply actions