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CAF
05-02-2025
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025: East Africa's time to rise
Special focus will be on East Africa's performance at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, as the region continues to attract attention as hosts of this year's TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship as well as the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2027. The Ugandan Cranes alongside the Taifa Stars of Tanzania are the two East African representatives at this year's TotalEnergies CAF AFCON finals set to take place between 21 December 2025 – 18 January 2026. Interestingly, both nations find themselves in a tough Group C that has them pitted against three-time champions, Nigeria as well as 2004 winners, Tunisia. As co-hosts of two of major CAF competitions alongside Kenya, the two nations' performance in Morocco will be under huge scrutiny from not only their fans, but the continent as a whole. The Morocco finals will be just months after their respective hosting of the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN finals, a tournament that will be key for Paul Put (Uganda Coach) and Hemed Suleiman Ali's (Tanzania Coach) charges in preparation for Morocco. Between the two nations, Uganda has had the better showing, with the Morocco finals set to be their eighth. The Uganda Cranes were agonisingly close to being crowned African champions in their fifth appearance back in 1978 where they were edged 2-0 in the final by Ghana in Accra. Since then, Uganda endured a lengthy wait to their next appearance, which only came in the 2017 Gabon edition where they bowed out in the group stages, as well as the 2019 Egypt finals where they could not go past the Round of 16. For the Tafia Stars, who's clubs Simba SC and Young Africans SC have done exceptionally well in CAF Inter-club competitions in recent years – they will be making their fourth TotalEnergies CAF AFCON appearance. Their previous three appearances (1980, 2019, 2023) have all concluded in the group stages. While Nigeria and Tunisia are worthy title contenders, Uganda and Tanzania carry the hopes of the East African region and will both be looking at taking the coveted TotalEnergies CAF AFCON title back to East African soil for the very first time since Ethiopia's 1962 triumph as hosts.
CAF
31-01-2025
- Sport
- CAF
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.
CAF
30-01-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Tanzania head coach, Hemed Suleiman Ali - 'There is no other way'
Head coach of the Taffia Stars, Hemed Suleiman Ali says every group of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 presents its own challenges, and that their Group C pool is no different to any of the other five groups. The Tanzania head coach was reacting to Monday evening's TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 draw in Rabat which saw the East Africans drawn in an interesting group that pairs them with neighbours Uganda, as well as two former African champions Nigeria and Tunisia. Tanzania, a fast-growing African football nation is headed to its 4th TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with their third in Cote d'Ivoire. The East Africans are yet to make it out the group stages in their three previous attempts and will be hoping to rewrite history in Morocco this year in what looks to be a steep mountain to climb for them. Speaking to CAFOnline on Monday evening in Rabat, Suleiman Ali reflected on the draw, saying that there is no other way to go beyond the group stages but to overcome the tough opponents presented to them in the form of the two former champions, and East African neighbours, Uganda. '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. 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. There is no other way, we have to prepare well and represent our people well at this tournament' said the 54-year-old coach. The Morocco finals mark the coach's second consecutive appearance as head coach of the Taffia Stars. Suleiman Ali took over the reins from as Interim Coach at the Cote d'Ivoire finals after the dismissal of Adel Amrouche in the group stages. Under his guidance, Tanzania qualified for the finals through back-to-back victories against Guinea and Ethiopia, including a crucial 1-0 win over Guinea, sealed by Saimon Happygod Msuva's decisive goal. Tanzania will also be hoping to secure their first win of the competition, having played 9 matches, drawn three and lost six.
