Taifa Stars face Mongolia in Fifa Series match today

Dar es Salaam. The national football team (Taifa Stars) today face Mongolia in their second international match of the world football governing body (FIFA)’s Series.

The match has been scheduled to kick off at 4pm Tanzanian time at the Liv Bona Dea Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Taifa Stars need victory in the encounter following the disappointing result in the first game against Bulgaria, who won 1-0.

Taifa Stars interim head coach Hemed "Morocco" Suleiman predicted a tough match, saying that despite the climate challenges, his players are in high spirit to win the encounter. 

"We are in very cold climate, but somehow my players have been adapted with it…although it is not 100 percent… It is going to be a tough match as we are facing one of the countries that have attained football development,” said Suleiman.

Suleiman explained that Taifa Stars have potential players despite some of the key players having been allowed to join their clubs ahead of the CAF Champions League matches.

“We have released about five players ahead of the CAF Champions League matches including Mohammed “Tshabalala” Hussein and Kibu Dennis,  both  from Simba gearing up to face Al Ahly of Egypt on Friday, and others are Clement Mzize, Mudathir Yahya and Ibrahim Bacca, all from Young Africans (Yanga), taking on Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on Saturday.

“We are still strong ahead of Mongolia’s encounter,” he said.

Aside from Tanzania, other countries that have been given the chance of featuring in the tournament are Algeria, South Africa, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea and Central African Republic.

The countries will feature in special groups together with teams from other continents such as Europe, the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), Asia, and North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf).