Tanzania has officially unveiled its squad for the upcoming 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024, in Côte d’Ivoire.
The announcement, made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and confirmed by the Tanzania Football Federation, introduces a 27-man squad led by skipper Mbwana Samatta.
Head coach Adel Amrouche is guiding the team, which includes 12 foreign-based players and 14 locally-based talents. Key players such as Samatta and Simon Msuva, the sole unattached player, are set to spearhead the Taifa Stars’ attack. Notable exclusions from the previous provisional squad include Abdulhamis Suleiman ‘Sopu’, Metacha Mnata, Khelfin Hamdoun, and the injured Twariq Ahmed.
Drawn in Group F, Tanzania will face tough competition from Morocco, DR Congo, and Zambia. The tournament’s Group Stage matches for Taifa Stars will take place in San-Pédro, 350km from Abidjan. The team’s journey kicks off on January 17 against World Cup semi-finalist Morocco, followed by clashes with Zambia on January 21 and DR Congo on January 24.
To progress to the round of 16, Taifa Stars must navigate through a challenging group stage. The team, having qualified for the tournament by finishing second in their qualifying group behind Algeria, aims to build on recent promising performances. Despite facing setbacks in the 2019 AFCON edition, Tanzania is determined to make an impact in its third appearance on the continental stage. With a focus on strategic preparation and tactical finesse, the Taifa Stars aspire to surpass previous achievements and leave a mark in the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Notable exclusions from the previous provisional squad include Abdulhamis Suleiman ‘Sopu’, Metacha Mnata, Khelfin Hamdoun, and the injured Twariq Ahmed.
Drawn in Group F, Tanzania will face tough competition from Morocco, DR Congo, and Zambia. The tournament’s Group Stage matches for Taifa Stars will take place in San-Pédro, 350km from Abidjan.
The team’s journey kicks off on January 17 against World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, followed by clashes with Zambia on January 21 and DR Congo on January 24. To progress to the round of 16, Taifa Stars must navigate through a challenging group stage.
The team, having qualified for the tournament by finishing second in their qualifying group behind Algeria, aims to build on recent promising performances. Despite facing setbacks in the 2019 AFCON edition, Tanzania is determined to make an impact in its third appearance on the continental stage.
With a focus on strategic preparation and tactical finesse, the Taifa Stars aspire to surpass previous achievements and leave a mark at the 2023 CAF African Cup of Nations.
As the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d’Ivoire approaches, several participating teams engaged in friendly matches over the weekend to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming tournament set to kick off on January 13th in Abidjan.
Algeria showcased their strength with a convincing 3-0 victory against Togo in Lome. Rami Ben Sbaini and Islam Slimani’s goals secured the win, boosting confidence for the Desert Foxes.
Another friendly against Burundi on January 9th awaits Algeria before they head to Bouake for the tournament. In another goal-filled encounter, Mali triumphed 6-2 over Guinea-Bissau.
Youssouf Niakate, Lassana Coulibaly, Kamory Doumbia, Sekou Niakate, Falaye Sacko, and Lassine Sinayoko all found the net, while Guinea-Bissau managed to score twice through Mama Baldé and Carlos Mané.
A goalless draw marked the friendly between DR Congo and Angola, highlighting a solid defensive performance from both teams. Despite the absence of goals, the match proved beneficial for the Leopards and Palancas Negras in their final preparations for the tournament.
Burkina Faso faced Iran in a friendly, suffering a 2-1 loss despite Mohamed Konate’s early goal in the 17th minute. Iran staged a comeback, securing two goals for the victory. Tunisia and Mauritania also played a goalless draw.
Coaches Jalal Kadri and Amir Abdou fine-tuned strategies and tried different tweaks, though both sides couldn’t find the net despite exciting moments on the pitch. The countdown to the tournament gets closer.
In a Monday showdown gearing up for the Africa Cup of Nations, Guinea triumphed 2-0 over Nigeria, but the victory came with a potential setback for Stuttgart and the Syli Nationale.
Serhou Guirassy, the 27-year-old goal machine, was substituted with a thigh injury in the first half, raising anxieties for the Bundesliga club. Guirassy’s stellar season, boasting 17 goals and one assist in 14 games, has drawn interest from clubs, with Manchester United among the suitors.
Despite a reported €17.5m release clause, Stuttgart is yet to receive offers, possibly due to uncertainty surrounding the extent of Guirassy’s injury.
As his national team prepares to face Gambia, Cameroon, and Senegal in the AFCON, Stuttgart closely monitors the situation, aware that the opening game against Guinea-Bissau on Saturday looms.
In a setback for the Nigerian national team, Victor Boniface faces a six-week absence which ruled him out of the upcoming AFCON tournament due to a muscle injury sustained during training in Abu Dhabi.
Adding to the challenge, Taiwo Awoniyi is already missing out after undergoing surgery for a recurring groin injury. As the Super Eagles look to fill the void, three promising strikers come into focus.
Terem Moffi
Despite missing the final 25-man squad list, OGC Nice’s Terem Moffi remains a compelling option. The 24-year-old, who scored 18 goals across all competitions last year, could step up in the absence of Boniface.
With Coach Jose Peseiro’s preference for a two-striker system, Moffi’s unique playing profile might just be what the Super Eagles need.
Cyriel Dessers:
Rangers’ striker Cyriel Dessers, who joined the team last summer, has shown promise with eight goal contributions in fourteen league starts. Although he struggled initially, the 29-year-old found his rhythm.
Having made his Super Eagles debut in 2020, Dessers aims for a recall after being included in Peseiro’s provisional squad list. His experience and recent form make him a viable candidate to bolster Nigeria’s attacking prowess in Ivory Coast.
Paul Onuachu:
There is also the third option of Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu. Onuachu has netted 8 goals and registered 3 assists in 14 Super Lig matches for his loan club.
The 6ft 8″ giant endured a torrid season at parent club Southampton last season but has returned to form this campaign. He last featured for the Super Eagles when he came on as a halftime substitute in the 1-0 home defeat to Guinea Bissau back in March last year.
As the tournament approaches, the spotlight shifts to Moffi, Dessers and Onuachu; three strikers eager to make an impact and fill the shoes of the sidelined Boniface and Awoniyi.
There’s even the option of Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella who’s more of a wide player. All eyes will be on Peseiro to see what he decides.
Jose Peseiro and the Super Eagles face a fresh setback as Victor Boniface withdraws from Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad, this after Wilfred Ndidi’s earlier withdrawal due to a muscular injury.
Boniface, the Bayer Leverkusen striker, is sidelined for up to six weeks with a groin injury, impacting his anticipated role as Victor Osimhen’s strike partner in Peseiro’s preferred 4-4-2 formation.
The Nigeria Football Federation’s decision on a replacement for Boniface remains uncertain. With Kelechi Iheanacho also racing against time for fitness, the Super Eagles face challenges ahead of their opening game against Equatorial Guinea on January 14.
Boniface’s prolific season (with twenty-four goal involvements in 23 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen) positioned him as a potential breakout star of the tournament. His absence poses a significant setback for Nigeria at AFCON.
It is a huge blow, considering his sensational form this season and the impact he made during his first call-up for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against São Tomé and Príncipe in September.
His absence raises questions about the team’s attacking dynamics and whether Peseiro will need to adjust his tactics to compensate for the loss of such a key player.
The Super Eagles now find themselves navigating a challenging scenario, hoping for Iheanacho’s timely recovery while contemplating strategic adjustments to face the upcoming AFCON competition.
