Gamondi proud of Tanzania’s AFCON figh
RABAT: TAIFA Stars head coach Miguel Gamondi stood defiant in the aftermath of Tanzania’s narrow AFCON exit, insisting his side has permanently shed its reputation as a continental ‘easy beat.’
Following a disciplined, high-stakes 1-0 loss to hosts Morocco, the Argentine tactician praised his squad for a performance defined by tactical maturity and a refusal to be intimidated by the tournament favourites.
While Morocco enjoyed territorial dominance in front of a raucous home crowd, the statistics told the story of a remarkably balanced tactical duel.
“We defended with precision and limited a world-class Morocco side to just four shots on target,” Gamondi said in a post-match analysis.
“They had the ball, but we managed the pressure. Crucially, we created two clear-cut chances of our own. The gap between us and the elite is closing faster than people realise.”
Gamondi was full of praise for his players, crediting their discipline, commitment and collective attitude for exceeding expectations against one of the tournament favourites.
He emphasised that their tactical awareness, concentration and adherence to the game plan were decisive factors in the performance.
“I’m very proud of the players’ tactical discipline, commitment and attitude we came here to play, not to park the bus,” he said.
The match reached a fever pitch in the closing minutes when Iddy Seleman burst into the Moroccan box, only to be brought down by defender Adam Masina. Despite heavy contact and Tanzanian protests, the referee declined a VAR review, a decision that left Gamondi visibly animated on the touchline.
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“It was not anger; I was just overwhelmed with emotion,” Gamondi said.
“I asked the referee why he didn’t go to VAR. I am not judging the referee, I did not agree with many of his decisions, but he is the one who administers justice on the pitch.”
Gamondi reaffirmed his belief that the performance reflected Tanzania’s growing confidence and capacity to compete at the highest level of African football, particularly against nations with a longer pedigree on the continental stage.
Players also expressed their gratitude and determination. Midfielder Suleiman Mwalimu thanked Gamondi for the trust shown in him.
“I thank Almighty God, and I thank Coach Gamondi for believing in me and trusting that I could contribute to the team in this competition,” said Mwalimu.
He added that the support of fans and the nation remained a key motivator for the players, whether in the stadium or at home.
Meanwhile, defender Mohamed Hussein praised Gamondi’s guidance, emphasising that the team travelled to AFCON with the clear intention to compete rather than simply participate.
He credited the coach’s instructions as a crucial factor in helping Tanzania reach the knockout stage.
