Amrouche optimistic Stars will perform well in Afcon
Taifa Stars goalkeepers, Aishi Manula (left) and Kwesi Kawawa during a training session in Egypt recently. PHOTO | COURTESY
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He said that Taifa Stars players know their commitment to the competition, and their training camp has had good morale for the players.
- Tanzania clashes with Morocco, the DR Congo, and Zambia in a competitive Group F.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania national football team (Taifa Stars) head coach, Abdelkader Amrouche, is optimistic his players will perform well in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals scheduled to start on Saturday in Ivory Coast.
Speaking in Egypt, where the Stars had briefly camped for training, Amrouche admitted that his players have shown good improvement with high spirits ahead of the competition.
Taifa Stars players are set to arrive tomorrow at Ivory Coast’s Félix Houphouët Boigny International Airport.
The team’s contingent comprises 27 players following a decision to drop four players, namely Metacha Mnata, Abdulsuleiman Sopu, Khleffin Hamdoun, and Twariq Yusuf.
He said that Taifa Stars players know their commitment to the competition, and their training camp has had good morale for the players. Tanzania clashes with Morocco, the DR Congo, and Zambia in a competitive Group F.
“We are going to compete and not participate. Players know what Tanzanian football fans need from them. We are targeting to do our best despite the fact that we are facing tough assignments,” said Amrouche.
He explained that they will play with determination as the players have exposure to international competitions.
“There is no easy game in the competition, and we need to fight in all matches,” he said.
The 27-man squad, brimming with domestic and international talent, features seasoned goalkeeper Aishi Manula and rising stars Kwesi Kawawa and Beno Kakolanya.
The defence boasts a formidable lineup, including experienced campaigners like Mohammed Hussein and Ibrahim Hamadi Bacca, alongside Shakhtar Donetsk’s Novatus Dismas and England-based Haji Mnoga and Abdi Banda.
The midfield is equally impressive, with Azam FC duo Sospeter Bajana and Feisal Salum alongside Mudathir Yahaya and Morice Abraham.
The attacking unit promises fireworks, with Ben Starkie, Cyprian Kachwele, and Charles M’mombwa joined by Saimon Msuva and the experienced captain, Mbwana Samatta.
Meanwhile, African champions Senegal will arrive on Ivorian soil tomorrow. FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco and Guinea-Bissau were the first to arrive for the tournament.
The two teams arrived on Sunday, January 7, 2024, marking a huge milestone for the opening match.
Quarter-finalists at the last edition in Cameroon, the Atlas Lions are in Group F with two-time champions DR Congo, 2012 winners Zambia, and the Taifa Stars of Tanzania.
The 1976 champions will be making their 19th appearance in the history of the championship. Guinea-Bissau will face host Cote d’Ivoire in the tournament opener on January 13 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe.
Three-time winners, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, complete the pack in Group A. Also due for Tuesday are record-setting seven-time winners Egypt and Mozambique.
