By Emmanuel Muga BBC Sport Online in Dar es Salaam

The Football Association of Tanzania (FAT) have announced that they are in the process of recruiting a foreign coach to guide the Taifa Stars through the African Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

FAT secretary general Michael Wambura held a press conference on Tuesday at his office in Dar es Salaam and announced that the FA had so far received CVs of three prospective coaches from Slovenia, England and Ghana.

He did not disclose names of the coaches on grounds that vacancies were still open.

"We are still receiving names, when we have enough of them to choose from, we will make a shortlist and then announce names," he said.

Wambura said the FAT are being helped by various FAs around the world in spotting a suitable coach for Taifa Stars.

Last foreigner

"We have written to various football associations around the world asking them to recommend to us a good coach and they are very co-operative," he said.

Wambura added the coach would be available before the team plays its first match against Benin on 23 September.

He will be taking over from Salum Madadi, a local coach whose appointment was met with criticism from the public and the press.

The last foreign coach to take charge of the national team is German Burkhard Pape, whose contract was terminated this year after two years as a technical advisor.

Pape was often critical of the FAT, citing them as incompetent and having a lack of vision.

Tanzania last qualified for the Cup of Nations finals in 1980, and will have to top a group that includes Zambia, Sudan and Benin to reach Tunisia 2004.