_{The Tanzania national football team, Taifa Stars will have a new coach in-charge when they play their next matches in the qualifiers of the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).}

_{Experienced coach Adel Amrouche who has handled the national teams of Yemen, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Botswana and Libya is Taifa Stars’ new coach.}

_{The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) made the announcement of Amrouche’s appointment on Saturday.}

_{“He has coached clubs and teams from various parts of the continent and in 2013, he clinched Best East African coach after guiding Harambee Stars of Kenya to the CECAFA Challenge championship. “Before that, he led Burundi into two finals of the same competition,” reads part of the statement released by TFF’s head of Communication Clifford Ndimbo.}

_{Wallace Karia, the TFF President also told Cecafaonline during a brief chat at the Federation’s technical Centre in Kigamboni said they are pleased to have a new coach. “He is a good and experienced coach who has agreed to handle our team,” says Karia.}

_{The 57 year old Amrouche is expected to start work immediately to prepare Taifa Stars for their two back-to-back matches against Uganda Cranes in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.}

_{Algeria lead group F with six points after two matches, while Niger with 2 points are second. Tanzania and Uganda are tied on one point each after two matches played by each team.}

The Walia Ibex of Ethiopia returned to winning ways on Thursday night with a 2-0 victory against giants Egypt 2-0 in a Group D match of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.

Dawa Hottesa Dukele and Shemeles Bekele netted two first half goals to give Ethiopia their first win the the campaign after losing 2-1 to Malawi in the first match.

The six time African champions Egypt came all out at the Bingu National Stadium in Malawi to try and get an early goal, but the Ethiopian defenders contained them well.

After 21 minutes Dukele put Ethiopia ahead when he finished off a clever run and cross by Abubeker Nassir. Egypt playing without skipper and Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah tried to fight back to level matters, but failed.

Team captain Bekele also got his name on the score sheet after 40 minutes as the Egyptian defending line was again caught flat footed.

Wubetu Abate, the Ethiopian coach said his team played well and worked hard to get the win. “We need to keep working hard and remain focused because there are more games to come in the qualifiers,” added Abate.

Ethiopia now go top of Group D with a better goal difference as all the teams in the group have collected three points.

In the other matches played by teams from the CECAFA region South Sudan suffered a 3-1 defeat to a 10-man Mali team in a Group G match played at the St. Marys Stadium, Kitende in Uganda.

South Sudan took a first half lead after Kiki Kouyate netted an own goal after 29 minutes. But the Mali team returned determined to level matters after 58 minutes through Mohamed Camara. Mali was later reduced to 10-men after Ibrahima Kone was later sent-off after 78 minutes for elbowing Rashid Toha.

Sekou Koita and Aliou Dieng added two more goals for Mali in added time as the South Sudan team failed to defend well.

Burundi also lost 1-0 to visiting Cameroon in a Group C match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es salaam. Toko Ekambi scored the lone goal after 30 minutes.

Results

Ethiopia 2 Egypt 0

South Sudan 1 Mali 3

Burundi 0 Cameroon 1

The Amavubi Stars of Rwanda picked a point in their first Group L match played against Mozambique on Thursday night.

Rwanda held Mozambique 1-1 in a match played at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

After a goalless first half, Blaise Nishimwe gave Rwanda the lead after 65 minutes.

But the Mambas who dominated the match pushed forward and leveled matters two minutes later through Stanley Ratifo. The two teams continued to push forward and create some good scoring chances, but failed to convert.

Carlos Alos Ferrer, the Rwanda head coach said that although it was a match they could have won, he is happy that they have picked the first point in the first match. “We need to work hard and continue preparing before we face the African champions Senegal,” added the coach.

On Saturday the second Group L match will see Senegal hosts Benin at the new Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio.

Five teams from the CECAFA region Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan will also be in action on Saturday. Burundi will play away to Malawi, while South Sudan also take on hosts Gambia.

The Taifa Stars of Tanzania will play away to Niger, Sudan battle Mauritania, and Uganda take on FIFA Arab Cup reigning champions Algeria in Algiers.