Tanzania in tricky CHAN group

DAR ES SALAA.M: TANZANIA has learnt its fate in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), being placed in Group B alongside Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic.

The draw has been positively received by football legends in the country, highlighting that success hinges on thorough preparation, hard work and strong stakeholders’ support.

Burkina Faso emerged winners against Tanzania in the just ended Mapinduzi Cup in Pemba, Zanzibar.

In a conversation with the ‘Daily News,’ former Simba and Young Africans goalkeeper, Ivo Mapunda and former Yanga midfielder, Bakari Malima, shared their insights.

Both legends had the honour of serving the national team in different stints, each leaving an indelible mark on Tanzanian football.

Mapunda highlighted that Tanzania’s group is less daunting compared to Kenya’s, which includes African heavyweights like Morocco, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

He pointed out that while the teams in Tanzania’s group are relatively evenly matched, it is crucial not to take this for granted.

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“Our group may not seem intimidating at first glance, but every team is closely matched, and that should be an incentive, not an excuse, to skip homework or be underprepared. Our players are talented and competitive, which marks a shift from previous years when most of the national team’s core players came from just Young Africans or Simba.

“Today, the best talents are spread across various clubs and the quality of preparation at both the club and national team levels has improved significantly. This has boosted confidence and fostered greater competition among players, making the squad stronger and more dynamic.”

Malima expressed strong confidence in Tanzania’s prospects for success in the upcoming CHAN tournament, stressing the importance of commitment and hard work from the players.

He believes that, given the group they are in, no team should intimidate them.