Taifa Stars crash to 3-0 defeat as Amrouche admits tactical errors

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's dream start to the Africa Cup of Nations turned into a nightmare on Wednesday as they were comprehensively outclassed by Morocco, falling to a 3-0 defeat in their Group F opener.

Coach Adel Amrouche admitted his tactical plan was no match for the Atlas Lions' quality, conceding that individual errors compounded the pre-match disadvantage due to injuries.

"Our gameplan failed," he said bluntly after the match. "We didn't expect this, but I congratulate Morocco for their performance and the result."

Goals from Selim Amallah, Azzedine Ounahi, and Badr Benoun sealed a comfortable victory for the North African giants, exposing the clear gulf in class between the two sides. "The quality of Morocco's players made the difference, and they deserved to win," Amrouche acknowledged.

Despite the setback, the Algerian-born coach remains optimistic about Tanzania's chances of progressing from the group stage. "We will learn from our mistakes and focus on the upcoming matches," he declared. "It won't be easy, but we still have a chance."

Their next challenge comes on January 21st against 2012 champions Zambia, in what promises to be a pivotal encounter.

Amrouche knows he needs to rally his troops quickly if they are to have any hope of achieving the "miracle" of qualification he spoke of before the tournament.

The Taifa Stars face an uphill battle, but with their fighting spirit and the coach's belief, they may yet pull off a surprise in this competitive group.