Dar es Salaam. The national football team (Taifa Stars) today face Mongolia in their second match of the world football governing body (FIFA)’s Series of international friendly matches.
The match has been scheduled to kick off at 4pm Tanzanian time at the Liv Bona Dea Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Taifa Stars need victory in the encounter following the disappointing results in the first match against Bulgaria. Tanzania lost 1-0.
Taifa Stars interim head coach Hemed “Morocco” Suleiman predicted a tough match against Mongolia who lost 1-0 against Azerbaijan in their first match. Suleiman said despite the climate challenges, his players are in high spirit ahead of the encounter, promising to deliver their best.
“We are in very cold climate, but somehow my players have been adapted with it…although it is not 100 percent… It is going to be a tough match as we are facing one of the country that has attained football development,” said Suleiman.
Suleiman said Taifa Stars have potential players despite the fact that some of the key players have been allowed to join their clubs ahead of the CAF Champions League matches.
“We have released about seven players, Mohammed “Tshabalala” Hussein, Kibu Dennis all from Simba who are nw geared to face Al Ahly of Egypt on Friday while Clement Mzize, Mudathir Yahya and Ibrahim Bacca have returned home to join Young Africans (Yanfa) ahead of the CAF Champions League match against Mameldi Sundowns of South Africa on Saturday. We are still strong ahead of Mongolia’s encounter,” he said.
Aside from Tanzania, other countries that have been given the chance are Algeria, South Africa, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea and Central African Republic.
The countries will feature in special groups together with teams from other continents such as Europe, the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), Asia, and North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf).
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