Tanzania coach Suleiman: 'We must be ready to compete' in tough TotalEnergies CAF AFCON group
Tanzania head coach Hemed Suleiman Ali has acknowledged the tough challenge ahead for the Taifa Stars at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, but insists his team must rise to the occasion and fight for a place in the knockout stage.
The East Africans, making their fourth AFCON appearance, have been drawn in Group C, where they will face regional rivals Uganda, as well as former African champions Nigeria and Tunisia. Despite the daunting opposition, Suleiman remains optimistic, saying Tanzania is ready to prove itself on the big stage.
Reacting to the draw held in Rabat, Suleiman emphasized that every group at AFCON presents its own challenges and that Tanzania must be fully prepared to compete.
'We are ready. We saw who we are going to play with. I think it's a tough group, but it's tough for all of them,' he said.
'There is no easy group. If you have qualified for this stage of the competition, you have to prepare. We know who we are facing, and we know how we will prepare for them.'
Tanzania, who are yet to progress beyond the group stage in their three previous AFCON appearances, are determined to rewrite history and secure their first-ever knockout stage qualification.
The Taifa Stars head into the tournament on the back of a strong qualifying campaign, where they secured a crucial 1-0 win over Guinea, with Saimon Happygod Msuva scoring the decisive goal.
Suleiman, whose nickname is Morocco took over the team as interim coach during AFCON 2023 after the dismissal of Adel Amrouche, has since guided Tanzania back to the tournament, and his leadership will be crucial in Morocco.
'This is a great opportunity for us to represent our people well at this tournament,' he added. 'There is no other way – we have to prepare well and be ready to compete.'
Tanzania will also be aiming for their first-ever AFCON win, having played nine matches in the competition, drawing three and losing six.
One of Tanzania's biggest tests will be against fellow East African nation Uganda, with whom they will co-host AFCON 2027. The two sides have a historic rivalry, and their meeting in Morocco will serve as a preview of what's to come in three years' time.
Facing powerhouses Nigeria and Tunisia, both former AFCON winners, will be another major challenge, but Tanzania hopes to spring a surprise and claim a historic victory.
With the right preparation and mindset, the Taifa Stars believe they can make an impact in Morocco 2025.
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