Dismas Shida Athanasi
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dismas Shida Athanasi[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 December 2011 | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Talent Development Scheme[2] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Francis Foundation Academy | |||
| 2022– | Talent Development Scheme | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2026– | Tanzania U17 | 6 | (3) |
| ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:53, 4 June 2026 (UTC) | |||
Dismas Shida Athanasi (born 26 December 2011) is a Tanzanian footballer who currently plays as a attacking midfielder at the Tanzanian Talent Development Scheme.
Club career
Athanasi was developed at the Francis Foundation Academy, before joining the Talent Development Scheme set up by the Tanzania Football Federation in 2022.[3]
International career
Called up to the Tanzania squad for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations at just fourteen years old, Athanasi scored his nation's first goal in their 3–0 opening group stage win against Mozambique.[4] Though he did not score again in the group stage, Tanzania progressed through in second place to face Algeria in the quarter-finals, where two Athanasi goals helped them to a 3–3 draw, with Tanzania progressing on penalties.[3] Despite Tanzania losing the final to Senegal on penalties, Athanasi was named as top-scorer in the competition.[5][6]
Style of play
In an interview with the Confederation of African Football, Athanasi stated that his best position was central attacking midfielder, but that he is also capable of playing in any forward role.[3] Growing up he idolised Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard.[3]
References
- ↑ Dismas Shida Athanasi at WorldFootball.net
- ↑ "Kikosi cha Serengeti Boys cha AFCON U17 2026, Morocco". Tanzania Football Federation (in Swahili). 6 May 2026 – via Facebook.
- 1 2 3 4 "Dismas Athanasi, 14 ans et phénomène de la CAN U-17 : le garçon qui veut faire régner la Tanzanie" [Dismas Athanasi, 14 years old and a phenomenon at the U-17 AFCON: the boy who wants to make Tanzania reign supreme]. CAF (in French). 31 May 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ Sene, Babacar (14 May 2026). "U17 AFCON Morocco 2026: Tanzania secures victory against Mozambique". Seneweb. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Africa: Tanzania Teenage Star Athanasi Wins Golden Boot At TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Afcon". allAfrica. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Tanzania teenage star Athanasi wins Golden Boot at TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON". CAF. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.