Tanzania’s journey at the ongoing TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 came to an end on Thursday night after the Taifa Stars failed to qualify for the knockout stage.

After losing 3-0 in the opening Group F match to Morocco, Taifa Stars battled to a 1-1 draw against Zambia with Simon Nsuva netting the goal, and concluding with a goalless draw against DR Congo to finish with 2 points.

But Acting coach Hemed Suleiman Morocco who took over the fort after head coach Adel Amrouche’s suspension says they have learnt a lot from the competition.

” This is the first time Tanzania get two points in an AFCON competition. It is a process and playing at the 2023 AFCON has given us a lot of lessons, ” added Suleiman who added that they will go back to the Tanzania Football Federation and advise on how a team should prepare best for such a tournament.

Simon Nsuva who netted Tanzania’s goal in the 1-1 draw against Zambia to become the first Tanzanian to score in the last two AFCONs the team has featured in added that it was a good playing ground for them to showcase their talents again.

” We had hoped to get to the knockout stage of the tournament, but things didnot work out, but we gained good experience playing with the best teams, ” added Nsuva.

Mbwana Samatta, the team captain made it clear that the team had played their best, but unfortunately failed to qualify for the knock-out stage. ” We played three matches and managed to pick two draws and suffered one defeat. There is a lot we keep learning from playing with the best teams and we shall keep improving when we get to the AFCON, ” added the captain.

Tanzania are the only team from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) that qualified for the AFCON 2023.

Taifa Stars of Tanzania will hope to get their campaign back on track when they face Zambia on Sunday in a Group F tie at the ongoing TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 in Ivory Coast.

After falling 3-0 to Morocco in their opening match, the CECAFA representatives will have to be at their best to improve their chances of making it to the knock out stage by picking some points in the remaining two matches.

Team captain Mbwana Samatta though admitted that they had faced a very strong Morocco team in the first match, he has made it clear that they are ready to fight in the second match against Zambia on Sunday. ” We know that the second match means a lot for us if we are to have chances of making it to the next round, ” added Samatta.

The skipper who plies his trade for PAOK in Greece says they must work as a team and take their chances, but also be very cautious in defending. « We need to try to be clinical when we create the scoring chances, «  he added.

Meanwhile, the Taifa Stars will be handled in the remaining matches of the tournament by acting coach Hemd Suleiman Morocco and assistant Juma Ngunda.

The development follows the suspension of head coach Adel Amrouche by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) on Friday.

TFF suspended Amrouche following the eigh-match ban slapped on the Algerian born coach by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

“A punishment was issued on January 18 by Caf’s Discipline Committee following complaints lodged by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) against coach Amrouche,” said a communication by the TFF communications Officer, Clifford Ndimbo said.

Ndimbo said following the suspension of Amrouche, TFF’s Executive Committee appointed Hemed Morocco as interim head coach who will be assisted by local coach Juma Mgunda,

RMFF had complained to CAF that Amrouche mounted accusations that the North African country has an influence within CAF in pre-arranging match results and selection of referees.

Group F standing

                     P   W   D   L   GF  GA  GD   Pts

Morocco       1    1    0    0    3     0     3     3

DR Congo    1    0    1    0    1     1     0     1

Zambia        1    0    1    0     1     1     0     1

Tanzania      1    0    0    1    0     3   -3     0

Tanzania have made a false start in their Group F campaign at the ongoing TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 in Cotde d’Ivoire.

The Taifa Stars who were reduced by one player suffered a 3-0 defeat to 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in a match played at the Laurent Poku Stadium in San Pedro on Wednesday evening.

Coach Adel Amrouche’s team kept the Morocco team at bay for the early part of the first half, but Romain Saïss made it 1-0 with a tap-in after Tanzanian goalkeeper Aishi Manula had parried back Hakim Ziyech’s free kick.

Taifa Stars’ skipper Mbwanna Samatta was all alone in-front with very little supply.

After the interval Tanzania were reduced by one player after Novatus Miroshi received a second yellow for a reckless challenge on Azzi-Eddine Ounahi after 70 minutes. After going a man-less the Atlas Lions of Morocco run rings round the Taifa Stars team creating lots of space.

Azz-Eddine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri added two more goals for coach Walid Regragui’s team. Tanzania received three yellow cards, while Morocco picked two.

Tanzania will next face Zambia on January21st, and wind up with the last Group J match on January 24th against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tanzania are the only team that qualified from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) to play at the AFCON 2023.

The Taifa Stars of Tanzania will take to the field this evening in their opening Group J opening match against Morocco at the ongoing TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 in Cote d’Ivoire.

Coach Adel Amrouche will be hoping that his team can make a good start against a tricky opponent when the match takes place at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in Ivory Coast.

Taifa Stars skipper Mbwana Samatta has made it clear during the official press conference on Tuesday that although Morocco is a big team in African and world football, they are ready to fight to get a good result.

” Morocco is a big and difficult team, it is one of the best teams in Africa and the world at the moment, so we respect them but that does not stop us from going to fight them. One thing that brought us here is Tanzania to win this championship, ” added the experienced forward who featured for English Premier League side Aston Villa few years ago.

Amrouche also made it clear that his team is in Cote d’Ivoire for serious business. ” Yes we are building a team, but we are happy to play against the big teams, ” added the Tanzania head coach. He promised that the Taifa Stars will do their best to give a good picture for East African Football.

On his part the Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui asked his team to set aside their past success at the 2022 World Cup and concentrate on the task at hand in the AFCON 2023. “The first match is often important. We are going back to get the three points and ideally start the competition,” stated Walid Regragui.

After the opening match against the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi finalists, Taifa Stars will battle Zambia on January 21st and DR Congo three days later.

In their last appearance at the AFCON in 2019 held in Egypt the Taifa Stars lost 2-0 to Senegal in the opening match, 3-2 to fellow CECAFA side Kenya and 3-0 to eventual champions Algeria.