Taifa Stars very ready to kick- start AFCON campaign – Amrouche

The head coach of Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, Adel Amrouche has said the team is well prepared to kick start their campaign at the ongoing TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 in Cote d’Ivoire.

Taifa Stars will start their Group F campaign with a match against 2022 FIFA World Cup semi finalists Morocco on January 17th at the Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pedro.

” The team has prepared well and we are waiting for the last day of preparations to see the final readiness before the match against Morocco. We have taken care of all aspects and the players are ready to go and fight for the Tanzanian flag, ” said the coach.

Tanzania who lost 2-0 to Egypt in an international friendly over a week ago will be all out to try and get a good start in the campaign ahead of two other tougher matches against Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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.

Tanzania are the sole CECAFA flag carriers in the AFCON 2023.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Kwesi Kawawa, Beno Kakolanya, Metacha Mnata, Aishi Manula

Defenders: Bakari Mwamnyeto, Ibrahim Hamad, Haji Mnoga, Abdi Banda, Novatus Dismas, Dickson Job, Lusajo Mwaikenda, Mohamed Husein, Abdulmalik Zakaria, Miano Danilo

Midfielders: Himid Mao, Feisal Salum, Twariq Abdillahi, Morice Abraham, Mzamiru Yassin, Kibu Dennis, Tarryn Allarakhia, Mudathiri Yahya, Sospeter Bajana, Khleffin Hamdoun, Mohammed Omar

Forwards: Cyprian Kachwele, Ben Starkie, Abdul Suleiman, Mbwana Samatta, Charles M’mombwa, Simon Msuva