Stars square up against Eswatini

DAR ES SALAAM: AS the Taifa Stars gear up for a COSAFA Cup fixture against Eswatini today, Head Coach Hemed ‘Morocco’ Suleiman has confirmed the squad will be without two key players.

The players to be missed are midfielder Faisal Salum and goalkeeper Yakoub Suleiman who are both ruled out due to injuries sustained in their previous outing.

“The absence of Feisal and Yakoub is due to injury challenges picked up in our last game,” said Coach Suleiman during a pre-match briefing. “It’s unfortunate, but we must adapt quickly.”

The duo’s absence comes as a major blow to Tanzania’s preparations, especially with the team eager to rebound after a shaky start to their Group C campaign.

However, the game is just a formality as Stars are already edged out of the competition. Stars currently sit bottom of Group C with zero points, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Madagascar in their opening match.

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In contrast, Eswatini managed to earn a point from a goalless draw against the same opponent, putting them second in the group behind Madagascar, who now lead with four points.

Madagascar’s lead came from their win over Taifa Stars and a follow-up draw, creating a tense group dynamic where goal difference could decide the semifinalist especially since only the group winner from Group C advances to the knockout stage (semifinals), unlike the top-two qualification format used in Groups A and B.

Despite the early setback, defender Lusajo Mwaikenda voiced optimism within the camp, stressing the team’s determination to bounce back.

“We were very disappointed to lose our first match, but since then, we’ve trained hard and managed to recover. We are fully prepared to face Eswatini,” Mwaikenda said with confidence.

His words reflect a squad that remains focused, hungry and united in the face of adversity traits that could prove vital in what is now a must-win encounter.

With such a tight group, every point and every goal counts. Should Eswatini defeat Stars today, they would move level with Madagascar on four points, leaving goal difference to determine who tops the group and progresses to the semi-finals.

For Stars, only a convincing win is the way to keep its esteem and pride. The COSAFA Cup format adds extra pressure for Group C and D teams, where only the group winners advance, unlike the more forgiving structure in Groups A and B.

This leaves no room for error and raises the stakes for teams already on the back foot.