Tanzania: Thousands gather to watch Samatta make debut

Thousands of football fans gathered in front of big screens to watch the debut of local football hero Mbwana Samatta in the coastal city of Dar es Salam, as he started for Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

He becomes the first Tanzanian to play for an English Premier League side and has turned into somewhat of an icon for those back home.

Villa secured the shock of the night beating Leicester City, who sit 13 places above them in the Premier League.

27-year old Samatta was signed to the Birmingham side last week on a four-and-a-half-year deal that will see him at Villa Park until 2024.

When he was named in the starting 11 his father, Ally Samatta, who was amongst those watching the match on the screens, told local reporters he starting crying.

Villa will now face either Manchester United or Manchester City in the final at Wembley on 1 March.

Photo credit: Cloud Digital