NATIONAL football team, Taifa Stars, departed Dar es Salaam for Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) yesterday ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Ethiopia.
The match will take place tomorrow at the Pentecost Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa. The game will kick-off at 7:00 pm East African Time. The clash with Ethiopia holds immense significance, with Tanzania needing a positive result to stay alive in the race for qualification.
Taifa Stars will enter the match with renewed confidence after their 1-1 draw with them in Dar es Salaam back on September 4th. Despite the disappointment of only managing a draw at home, Stars know that a win against Ethiopia will boost their chances to qualify.
Ethiopia, on the other hand, will be looking to recover from a heavy 3-0 defeat to Guinea in their last match.
The Walya Antelopes have struggled throughout the qualifiers and sit at the bottom of Group H, with just one point after four matches. However, they will be determined to bounce back on home turf and give their qualification hopes a lifeline.
Taifa Stars Interim Head Coach, Hemed Suleiman, noted that the upcoming match will be intense, but given its importance, the team is focused on securing all three points.
“My players are ready for the mission,” said Suleimani. “We know that our opponents have not been in great form, but we will approach the match with caution and determination. This is a crucial test for our AFCON aspirations.”
He also highlighted the necessity of focusing only on the game at hand, stressing that the Stars cannot afford to be distracted by other results in the group.
“We must focus on what we can control and that’s our performance on the pitch. A win against Ethiopia will give us a huge boost as we prepare for our final match against Guinea in Dar es Salaam,” he said.
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Currently, DRC lead Group H with a perfect record of 12 points, having already secured their place in next year’s AFCON finals. Guinea follow in second place with six points, while Tanzania sit on third with four points. Ethiopia are languishing at the bottom with just one point.
Taifa Stars will return to Dar es Salaam after facing Ethiopia for a crucial home match against Guinea on November 19. Tanzania will be hoping to repeat their victory over Guinea on September 10 and keep their qualification hopes alive.
With the race for qualification heating up, every match is now a ‘final’ for Taifa Stars, as they strive to add to their AFCON history, having previously qualified for the 1980, 2019 and upcoming 2024 tournaments.
