The Somerstown lad and ex-Portsmouth defender chasing international glory at the Africa Cup of Nations
The defender from Somerstown made 18 appearances for Pompey
It seems Portsmouth will have a representative at the African Cup of Nations after all.
Although he is no longer on the Blues’ books having left his south-coast home in the summer of 2024 after being surplus to requirements.
While it’s agony for midfielder Luke Le Roux, who has been overlooked for selection by South Africa, local lad Haji Mnoga is at the Moroccan-based tournament.
Although hailing from Somerstown, the tough-tackling defender has to date totalled 14 caps for Tanzania, including appearing at the previous Africa Cup of Nations in 2024.
Flourishing at Salford after Pompey exit
Having established himself as a first-team regular at Salford, the 23-year-old has strengthened his role with the Taifa Stars and will be present at the latest tournament, which kicks off on December 21.
Certainly Mnoga is thriving following his Pompey departure, having made 18 appearances for his home-town club after emerging through their youth ranks.
It wasn’t until three weeks into the 2024-25 season before he finally found himself a new club with Salford, following an unsuccessful trial at Notts County.
Since joining the League Two club in August 2024, the right-sided defender has amassed 57 appearances and one goal, while the club took up a 12-month option to extend his deal in the summer.
Karl Robinson’s men are presently sixth in the table, with Mnoga starting against Colchester and his former Pompey boss Danny Cowley on Saturday in a 3-2 success.
Group C in AFCON 2025
He subsequently departed for AFCON 2025, where Tanzania will compete in Group C, along with Nigeria, Tunisia and Uganda.
It’s a tough opening fixture for the Taifa Stars too, with a clash against Nigeria on December 23 at the Complexe Sportif de Fes in Fes.
Despite hailing from Somerstown and capped at England Under-17 level, Mnoga switched allegiances to the East African country in March 2022, qualifying through dad Suleiman.
Mnoga senior represented Zanzibar under-17s before journeying to England to play for Arsenal and Cardiff, although didn’t progress into the first-team of either club.
As a youngster, during summers Haji would accompany his dad visiting family in the neighbouring island of Zanzibar, often also staying in Tanzania’s former capital city of Dar es Salaam while in Africa.
Pompey debut at the age of 16
Now the former Cottage Grove Primary School pupil represents the national team and striving for international success at the tournament, which is scheduled to end on January 18.
Since May 2018, only Mnoga and Harry Jewitt-White have graduated from the Blues’ Academy to feature in the Football League for their home-town club.
A youth footballer with Meon Milton, he initially triallied for Pompey’s under-9s - and was signed seven days into a scheduled six-week run out.
Mnoga progressed to make his first-team debut as a 16-year-old in the Checktrade Trophy at Crawley in October 2018 under Kenny Jackett and would later also feature under Cowley.
However, when the defender left the Blues in the summer of 2024 at the end of his contract, he had failed to make an appearance under John Mousinho, having spent the previous 18 months on loan at Aldershot and Gillingham.
Now the lad from Somerstown is on the international stage at AFCON 2025.