ALL is set as Taifa Stars take on Uganda Cranes in the first leg match of group F Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Suez Canal Stadium in Egypt today.
A win will see Stars bagging 4 points from three matches which can put them at a comfortable zone ahead of the reverse leg duel at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
As already commented by the team’s Head Coach Adel Amrouche who said this is a very important game for his charges to grab maximum points in order to increase their chances of making a breakthrough.
“Of course, it is going to be a tough match but we have gathered enough resources to ensure that we have something good at the sound of the final whistle,” he said.
For him, this is his first assignment in charge of the country’s flag bearers hence people are anxious to establish what the outcome is be under his tutelage.
In another group F match, leaders Algeria host Niger at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, Algeria looking to extend further their lead at the top of the pile to 9 points.
They have managed to shine in both of opening matches to squeeze 6 points in the bag and are now focusing on how to get the better of Niger who until now occupies the second place with 2 points.
However, Taifa Stars and Uganda have one point each to enable group F wide open as the former look sharp to overcome The Cranes in both home and away duels.
Government already pledged to award the team 500m/- if they succeed to jump into the AFCON finals slated in Ivory Coast in January next year.
Meanwhile, sports stakeholders led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan have sourced a total of 15,000 tickets to be disbursed to fans during the return-leg tie versus Uganda in the city on Tuesday.
This was released yesterday via a press conference organised by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) who disclosed that so far, 15,000 tickets have been contributed by stakeholders.
Speaking live at the event, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said together with President Samia Suluhu Hassan, they are going to contribute 4,000 tickets while insisting on more fans to descend at the venue.
“We want people to come out in big numbers to cheer their team because our target is to do well in this competition just like what other countries do,” Majaliwa said.
