Mbwana Samatta
Samatta with Genk in 2019
Personal information
Full name Mbwana Ally Samatta[1]
Date of birth (1992-12-23) 23 December 1992[2]
Place of birth Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 PAOK
Number 33
Youth career
2008–2010 African Lyon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Simba SC 25 (13)
2011–2016 TP Mazembe 103 (60)
2016–2020 Genk 144 (56)
2020 Aston Villa 14 (1)
2020–2023 Fenerbahçe 30 (5)
2021–2022 → Antwerp (loan) 32 (5)
2022–2023 → Genk (loan) 33 (6)
2023– PAOK 11 (2)
International career‡
2011– Tanzania 75 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:00,4 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:15, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

Mbwana Ally Samatta (born 23 December 1992) is a Tanzanian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Super League Greece club PAOK, and captains the Tanzania national team.

Samatta began his career as a youth player for Tanzanian club African Lyon in 2008. He turned professional in 2010 with Simba Sports Club, where he played for only half of the season before moving to TP Mazembe, spending a total of five years with them, initially becoming a first-team regular. He was named the 2015 African based Player of the Year and finished the season as the top goalscorer of the CAF Champions League, as he helped TP Mazembe to win the title.

In January 2016, Samatta signed for Belgian side K.R.C. Genk, helping them to qualify for the UEFA Europa League and win the Belgian Jupiler League in 2019. Having finished the season as the top goalscorer of the Jupiler League, he also won the Ebony Shoe award in Belgium for his outstanding season with Genk.

In January 2020, he moved to Aston Villa, becoming the first (and only) Tanzanian player to play and score in the Premier League..

Club career

Samatta was a key figure during TP Mazembe's run to the final of the 2015 CAF Champions League, scoring seven goals in the process and finishing as the competition's top scorer.[4] In their group stage match against Moghreb Tétouan, Samatta scored a memorable hat-trick to secure a place in the semi-finals where they were drawn against Sudanese side Al-Merrikh SC.[5] Mazembe would go on to lift the cup after defeating Algerian side USM Alger in the final 4–1 on aggregate, with Samatta scoring a goal in both legs.[6][7]

At the Glo-CAF Awards on 7 January 2016 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria, he became the first player from East Africa to be crowned the CAF African Player of the Year.[8] Mbwana garnered a total of 127 points, ahead of his TP Mazembe teammate and DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba, who amassed 88 points, and Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah trailed in third place with 63 points.[8]

Genk

In January 2016, after winning the prize for best African player on the continent, he signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with KRC Genk.[9] He was voted the 2017 Most Influential Young Tanzanian in a ranking poll by Avance Media[10][11]

On 23 August 2018, Samatta scored a hat-trick against Brøndby IF in the Europa League for a 5–2 win.[12]

During the 2018–19 season, he led the Belgian First Division A in scoring with 20 goals, as Genk finished the season as league winners. In May 2019 he was awarded with the Ebony Shoe award for his exploits during the campaign.[13]

Aston Villa

On 20 January 2020, Samatta signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Premier League club Aston Villa.[14] In doing so, he became the first Tanzanian to sign for a Premier League club.[15] The transfer fee paid to Genk was reported as £8.5 million.[16][17] Samatta made his debut for the club 8 days later in Villa's 2–1 EFL Cup semi-final second-leg win over Leicester City, a result which sealed the club's place in the final of the competition.[18]

On 1 February 2020, Samatta scored on his league debut for Aston Villa, in a 2–1 defeat to Bournemouth. This made him the first player from Tanzania to play, and subsequently score in the Premier League.[19]

Fenerbahçe

On 25 September 2020, Samatta joined Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe S.K. on an initial loan deal until the end of the season.[20] As part of the deal, Samatta signed a four-year contract at the end of his loan spell in July 2021.[21]

On 1 September 2021, Samatta joined Belgian side Royal Antwerp on a season-long loan.[22]

On 16 August 2022, Samatta returned to Genk on loan, with an option to buy.[23]

PAOK

On 17 July 2023, Super League Greece side PAOK announced the signing of Samatta on a two-year contract, with an option for one year more.[24]

Personal life

Samatta is a Muslim. He made the umrah to Mecca in 2018 with his Genk teammate Omar Colley.[25]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on 11 November 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Simba 2010–11[26][27] Tanzanian Premier League 2513—2[lower-alpha 3]2—2715
TP Mazembe 2011[26][27] Linafoot 82——82
2012[26][27] Linafoot 2923—6[lower-alpha 3]6—3529
2013[26][27] Linafoot 3720—6[lower-alpha 3]62[lower-alpha 4]24528
2013–14[26][27] Linafoot 2915—9[lower-alpha 3]3—3818
2014–15[27] Linafoot —7[lower-alpha 3]8—78
2015–16[27] Linafoot —00—00
Total 103600028232213385
Genk 2015–16[28] Belgian Pro League 18500———185
2016–17[28] Belgian First Division A 371342—18[lower-alpha 5]5—5920
2017–18[28] Belgian First Division A 31840———358
2018–19[28] Belgian First Division A 382310—12[lower-alpha 5]9—5132
2019–20[28] Belgian First Division A 20710—6[lower-alpha 6]31[lower-alpha 7]02810
Total 144561020036171019175
Aston Villa 2019–20[29] Premier League 1410021——162
Fenerbahçe (loan) 2020–21[27] Süper Lig 27531———306
Fenerbahçe 2021–22[27] Süper Lig 3000—00—30
Royal Antwerp (loan) 2021–22[28] Belgian First Division A 32511—6[lower-alpha 5]3—399
Genk (loan) 2022–23[28] Belgian Pro League 33630———366
PAOK 2023–24 Super League Greece 8100—8[lower-alpha 8]1—162
Career total 38914717421844632495200

International

As of matches played on 28 March 2021[26]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Tanzania 201192
201250
2013106
201431
201572
201641
201743
201852
201993
202010
202120
Total5920
Scores and results list Tanzania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Samatta goal.[26]
List of international goals scored by Mbwana Samatta
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
126 March 2011National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Central African Republic2–12–12012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
23 September 2011National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Algeria1–01–12012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
311 January 2013Addis Ababa Stadium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ethiopia1–11–2Friendly
46 February 2013National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Cameroon1–01–0Friendly
524 March 2013 Morocco2–03–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
63–0
74 December 2013Afraha Stadium, Nakuru, Kenya Burundi1–01–02013 CECAFA Cup
812 December 2013Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya Zambia1–11–12013 CECAFA Cup
93 August 2014Estádio do Zimpeto, Maputo, Mozambique Mozambique1–11–22015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
107 October 2015National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Malawi1–02–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
1114 November 2015 Algeria2–02–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
1223 March 2016Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya, N'Djamena, Chad Chad1–01–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
1325 March 2017National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Botswana1–02–0Friendly
142–0
1510 June 2017National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Lesotho1–01–12019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
1627 March 2018National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania DR Congo1–02–0Friendly
1716 October 2018National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Cape Verde2–02–02019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
1827 June 201930 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt Kenya2–12–32019 Africa Cup of Nations
198 September 2019National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Burundi1–01–1 (3–0 pen.)2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2019 November 2019Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet, Monastir, Tunisia Libya1–01–22021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

TP Mazembe[30]

Genk

Aston Villa

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Updated squad lists for 2019/20 Premier League". Premier League. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  2. ↑ "Mbwana Samatta". Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Mbwana Samatta: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  4. 1 2 "TP Mazembe beat USM Alger to win African Champions League". BBC Sport. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  5. ↑ Gondwe, Kennedy (20 September 2015). "Mazembe's Tanzania star Samatta harbours European hopes". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Advantage Mazembe in CAF final after away win". CAF. 1 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Mazembe beat USMA to reach fifth heaven". CAF. 8 November 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Tanzania's Samatta is African Player of the Year Based in Africa". www.kawowo.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Mbwana Samatta signs for Belgian side Genk". BBC Sport. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "Footballer turned Insta-influencer". BBC Sport. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  11. ↑ "Mbwana Samatta voted most influential young Tanzanian". Azam. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  12. ↑ Tosin Morakinyo (23 August 2018). "Mbwana Samatta's hat-trick fires Genk past Broendby IF". Goal.com. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  13. 1 2 Barrie, Mohamed Fajah (7 May 2019). "Tanzania's Mbwana Samatta wins Belgium's Ebony Shoe award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  14. ↑ Styles, Greg (20 January 2020). "Samatta signs for Aston Villa". Aston Villa Football Club. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  15. ↑ Kwenda, Stanley (3 February 2020). "Mbawana Samatta thrilled to be Tanzanian trailblazer". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Mbwana Samatta: Aston Villa sign Genk's Tanzania striker for £8.5m". BBC Sport. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  17. ↑ "Aston Villa confirm signing of Mbwana Samatta". Express and Star. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  18. ↑ "Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester (3-2 agg): Wembley for Villa after Trezeguet goal in stoppage-time". Sky Sports. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  19. ↑ Oludare, Shina (1 February 2020). "Aston Villa's Samatta sets four records on Premier League debut". Goal.com.
  20. ↑ "Villa's Samatta joins Fenerbahce on loan". BBC Sport.
  21. ↑ Chuma, Festus (3 July 2021). "Mbwana Samatta Becomes Permanent Fenerbahce Player". Ducor Sports. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  22. ↑ Oludare, Shina (1 September 2021). "Mbwana Samatta: Royal Antwerp sign Fenerbahce striker | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "Welkom terug Ally Samatta". KRC Genk (in Dutch). 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  24. ↑ "Παίκτης του ΠΑΟΚ ο Άλι Σαμάτα" (in Greek). PAOK FC. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  25. ↑ Kaorata, Salum (30 May 2018). "Picha: Mbwana Samatta atua Mecca kufanya Umrah". Bongo5.com (in Swahili). Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Mbwana Samatta". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mbwana Samatta at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Mbwana Samatta » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Mbwana Samatta in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  30. ↑ "Mbwana Samatta is carrying Tanzania's torch in Europe". First Touch. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  31. ↑ "Advantage Mazembe in CAF final after away win". CAF. 1 November 2015.
  32. ↑ "Mazembe beat USMA to reach fifth heaven". CAF. 8 November 2015.
  33. ↑ "Tanzania captain Mbwana Samatta linked with move to Middlesbrough". Goal. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  34. 1 2 "Landskampioen Genk opent seizoen met Supercup-winst tegen KV Mechelen". Sporza. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  35. ↑ McNulty, Phil (1 March 2020). "Aston Villa 1–2 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  36. ↑ "Aubameyang, Samatta Rule Africa". CAF. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
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