All set for Stars, Sudan duel

SAUDI ARABIA: ALL is set as the National Football Men’s Team (Taifa Stars) engages Sudan in an international friendly match slated for Saudi Arabia today.

It is another opportunity for Coach Adel Amrouche to weigh up his side ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Ivory Coast next year, in which Tanzania has qualified for the third time.

Packed in Group F, the national envoys will have to clear hurdles of Morocco, DR Congo and Zambia, in order to earn a chance of marching beyond the group phase. Taifa Stars will launch their Group F campaign with a tense match against Morocco on January 17th and later on the same day, DR Congo will face Zambia.

On January 21st, Morocco will play against Congo DR while Zambia will meet with Tanzania. The last fixtures of the group unfold on January 24th when Tanzania interface DR Congo and Zambia against Morocco.

Commenting about the AFCON finals, Taifa Stars Skipper Mbwana Samatta said the best remedy to enable them do well is through best preparations. “I see that people are giving mixed opinions concerning our group, but the most important thing for us is to have adequate preparations… African football has changed a lot these days.

“We are here to compete. We have a good team, competent to draw a challenge in such a giant competition in Africa. I insist on thorough preparations,” said Samatta.

Likewise, the team’s attacker, Simon Msuva described their group as tough, while vowing they will do the best they can to make the country proud.

“For me and some few players in the team, this is our second AFCON finals to play, as such we are aware about what to do in order to reach far… but, it will all depend on the level of preparations we are going to have,” Msuva said. Meanwhile, before meeting in the 2023 AFCON finals, Tanzania will host Morocco on November 19th in Dar es Salaam for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.