Stars depart for Morocco ahead of crucial World Cup tie
Taifa Stars players vie for the ball during a training session at Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Currently, Taifa Stars sit in third place in Group E with six points, following victories over Niger and Zambia.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's national football team, Taifa Stars, leave the country today for Morocco ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualification match against Morocco, scheduled for March 26.
The squad consists of 22 players and officials, according to head coach Hemed "Morocco" Suleiman. The selected goalkeepers are Yakoub Suleiman (JKT Tanzania), Ally Salim (Simba SC), and Hussein Masaranga (Singida Black Stars). Defenders include Shomari Kapombe, Mohammed Hussein, and Abdulrazack Mohamed (Simba SC), Lusajo Mwaikenda and Pascal Msindo (Azam FC), Mirajy Abdallah (Coastal Union), Ibrahim Abdulla and Dickson Job (Young Africans), Ibrahim Ame (Mashujaa FC), and Haji Mnoga (Salford City, England).
The midfielders are Novatus Miroshi (Göztepe FC, Turkey), Mudathir Yahya (Young Africans), Yusuph Kagoma and Kibu Dennis (Simba SC), Feisal Salum, and Iddy Suleiman (Azam FC). The attacking lineup features Simon Msuva (Al-Talaba SC, Iraq), Clement Mzize (Young Africans), and Kelvin John (Aalborg BK, Denmark).
Two additional players, midfielder Charles M’Mombwa (Newcastle United Jets, Australia) and striker Selemani Mwalimu (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco), will join the team in Morocco. Suleiman stated that the players are highly motivated ahead of the encounter, set to take place at Honneur Stadium in Oujda.
He admitted the challenge ahead, stressing that every team is striving for victory to boost their chances of qualifying for the World Cup finals, scheduled to take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19 next year.
Currently, Taifa Stars sit in third place in Group E with six points, following victories over Niger and Zambia.
Niger holds second place, also with six points, but with a superior goal difference of +3 (5-2) compared to Taifa Stars' 0 (2-2).
Zambia is in fourth place with three points from four matches, while Congo Brazzaville, suspended by FIFA, remains without points in fifth place. Eritrea, initially part of Group E, withdrew from the competition.
"All the players are in high spirits and ready to battle Morocco, which leads the group with nine points after winning all three of their opening matches. We need a positive result to catch up with them," said Suleiman.
"We require a win that will not only increase our points but also help us avenge the 2-0 loss we suffered at home," he added.
The upcoming clash against Morocco is critical for Taifa Stars' World Cup qualification ambitions.
