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Taifa Stars in do-or-die Afcon match against Algeria today
Taifa Stars players train before their match against Algeria at the Stade 19 Mai 1956. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- This is a very crucial match for Taifa Stars in order to book space for the third time in the Afcon finals. Tanzania was the first to feature in the Afcon finals in 1980 in Lagos, Nigeria, and later in 2019 during the finals held in Cairo, Egypt.
Dar es Salaam. The national football team (Taifa Stars) today play Algeria counterpart in the crucial Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier match at the Stade 19 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria.
The group F match has been scheduled to start at 10pm Tanzania’s time and would be officiated by Benin referee Djindo Louis Houngandane, while assistant referees are Eric Ayimavo Ayamr Ulric, who is also from Benin, and Jonathan Ahonto Koffi of Togo.
The fourth official is Issa Mouhamed from Benin, while Boussairi Boujlel of Tunisia will be the match commissioner, and Niger's Issaka Boubacar is the referee assessor.
Also on the list of match officials are Azeddine Arab of Algeria, who is the medical officer, and the pre-match ceremony coordinator, Algerian Youcef Koudri.
This is a very crucial match for Taifa Stars in order to book space for the third time in the Afcon finals. Tanzania was the first to feature in the Afcon finals in 1980 in Lagos, Nigeria, and later in 2019 during the finals held in Cairo, Egypt.
Taifa Stars are placed second in group F and need a point (draw) or three points (win) in order to qualify for the Ivory Coast finals.
The group’s standings show that Algeria are at the top with 15 points, while Taifa Stars are second with seven points. Other teams in the group are Uganda, with four points, and Niger, with two points, respectively. Uganda will be away facing Niger at the Stade de Marrakech (Marrakech) in Morocco. The team’s head coach, Adel Amrouche, said they are expecting a tough match against one of the African giants in the encounter.
Amrouche said that his players are in top morale ahead of the encounter, and they are focused ahead of the encounter.
He said that the team players are focused ahead of the encounter and know what Tanzanians need from them.
"It is a deciding match for my team. We need to be very keen in the match, as we are playing against a tough team that has yet to lose a single duel in our group. We have trained well, and we believe we will come out with the best results," said Amouche.
In the world football rankings, Tanzania are ranked 124th, while Algeria are 33rd. Meanwhile, Taifa Stars striker Simon Msuva is also optimistic that they will do their best in the encounter. Msuva said they are taking the match seriously, and he called upon all Tanzanians to give them moral support.
Players who are forming the team squad are goalkeepers Beno Kakolanya (Singida FG), Metacha Mnata (Yanga), and Erick Johora (Geita Gold).
Defenders: Bakari Mwamnyeto (Yanga), Ibrahim Bacca (Yanga), Dickson Job (Yanga), Kennedy Juma (Simba), Abdi Banda (Richards Bay FC, South Africa), and Novatus Miroshi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium).
Midfielders: Mzamiru Yassin (Simba), Jonas Mkude (Yanga), Abdulmalik Zakaria (Namungo), Sospeter Bajana (Azam), Himid Mao (Tala’ea El Gaish, Egypt), Mudathir Yahya (Yanga), Haji Mnoga (Aldershot Town, England), and Lameck Lawi (Coastal Union).
Strikers: Clement Mzize (Yanga), Mbwana Samatta (Paok FC, Greece), Ben Starkie (Basford United, England), Simon Msuva (JS Kabyline, Algeria), Kibu Denis (Simba), and John Bocco (Simba).
