Legends point Stars achilles’ heel

DAR ES SALAAM: FORMER Taifa Stars players Bakari Malima and Abubakari Kombo have praised the national team’s efforts but admitted that Tanzania’s quarterfinal exit at the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 was down to shortcomings in midfield and attack.

Tanzania bowed out after a 1-0 loss to Morocco at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday.

Both former internationals said the result reflected Morocco’s superior sharpness and execution in front of goal.

Kombo noted that while match statistics showed Tanzania created more opportunities, Morocco were more clinical.

“Tanzania had 11 shots with only two on target, while Morocco managed nine with six on target. They also earned four corners compared to our one,” he said.

“When you compare the number of chances created, it’s clear that quality matters. Morocco made better use of fewer opportunities, while Tanzania lacked accuracy despite having more chances. This highlights the need to develop technically sound players, starting at grassroots and through exposure to toplevel competition.”

Despite the defeat, Kombo commended the team for topping Group B with three wins and a draw before falling in the quarterfinals.

“It’s a good achievement, but we must work harder to raise our quality if we want to progress further in future tournaments,” he said.

Malima agreed with Kombo’s assessment and emphasised the need for a long-term development plan, especially in key areas like midfield and attack.

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“In this CHAN tournament, Mzize was the main man upfront and he did his part. But who will be next after him? We need a continuous project to identify and build the next striker. Samatta has been important, but he’s aging now and we need fresh players with quality,” Malima said.

Malima also touched on squad depth and selection, highlighting that while the players chosen were good, some positions lacked strong options.

“Take Yusuf Kagoma, for example. He was solid in midfield, but whenever he was unavailable, the replacement couldn’t match his level. I believe there were other players not called up who could have helped, the same goes for Iddi Selemani,” he added.

Both players also stressed the importance of tactical flexibility from the technical bench.

“It’s necessary for coaches to be able to switch game plans when things aren’t working and to have players who can bring that change. Players get tired and rotation is important,” said Malima.