Taifa Stars blaze into CHAN quarters

DAR ES SALAAM: DAR ES SALAAM burst into a carnival of colour and song as the Taifa Stars roared into the quarter-finals of the 2024 CHAN tournament, defeating Madagascar 2-1 in a spirited showdown at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium today.

Clement Mzize was the hero of the night, his first-half brace igniting a wave of jubilation that swept from the stands to the city streets.

With every goal, the stadium erupted into a sea of blue, green and black national flags waving high, vuvuzelas blaring and voices united in triumphant chorus.

Unbeaten in three straight matches and now sitting proudly atop Group B with a perfect nine points, Tanzania became the first of 19 nations to book a coveted spot in the quarter-finals, leaving their group rivals Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Central African Republic scramble for the last Group B ticket.

From the very first whistle, it was a carnival of colour and sound at the stadium. Drums beating, chants echoing and an electric atmosphere that never let up.

The fans were in full voice, especially whenever the Taifa Stars were in possession, turning every touch into a celebration.

Tanzania wasted no time asserting their presence.

In the 9th minute, Feisal Salum unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box after being set up brilliantly by Clement Mzize.

The crowd held its breath, but Madagascar’s goalkeeper, Ramandimbisoa Michael, pulled off a heroic save, tipping the ball out for a corner.

Barely a minute later, the Taifa Stars were at it again. Feisal Salum delivered a pinpoint corner which found Mzize rising high in the box. His header beat the keeper but not the woodwork as denied Tanzania an early opener.

The pressure continued to mount and it finally paid off in the 13th minute.

Later, a sizzling strike from Mudathir Yahya clattered the top of the crossbar and rebounded into the danger zone. Quick to react was Clement Mzize, who pounced and fired home, igniting the stadium with cheers as Tanzania took the lead.

The Taifa Stars were not done yet. In the 20th minute, they doubled their advantage.

A beautifully executed set-piece from Feisal Salum was met with a deft touch from Mzize, guiding the ball past the Madagascar goalkeeper and into the back of the net his second goal of the night and a moment of pure magic for the Tanzanian faithful.

Madagascar tried to claw their way back into the game, and in the 32nd minute, they came close.

A well-taken free-kick by Mamisoa Rakotoson was expertly parried away by Tanzanian goalkeeper Yakoub Ali, who tipped the ball onto the bar with a world-class save.

But Madagascar kept pushing, and just moments later, they found their reward. In the same 32nd minute, Nantenaina Razafimahatana latched onto a precise assist from Niaina Rabemanantsoa on the right flank, slotting it home to pull one back.

The first half ended with Tanzania holding a 2–1 lead.

Ahmed fires Mauritania to CHAN first win:

Mauritania secured their first victory of the tournament yesterday, edging past the Central African Republic 1–0 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Courtesy of an early strike from Ahmed El Moctar Ahmed.

The lively forward netted in the ninth minute, coolly finishing a well-delivered set-piece from Abdallahi Mahmoud.

That lone goal proved decisive, lifting Mauritania to second place in the group with four points from three matches.

It was a much-needed boost for the Mauritanians, who opened their campaign with a hard-fought draw against Madagascar before falling to hosts Tanzania in their second outing.

In stark contrast, it’s been a tournament to forget so far for the Central African Republic.

Still searching for their first point, they remain rooted to the bottom of the table after back-to-back defeats the first, a 4–2 loss to Burkina Faso and now this narrow setback against Mauritania.

With qualification still up for grabs, Mauritania’s hopes are alive and kicking thanks in no small part to Ahmed’s early heroics.