Latest news with #TaifaStars
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Hugo Broos sends a message to Kaizer Chiefs
All Kaizer Chiefs players will be watching Bafana Bafana on TV again. Coach Hugo Broos confirmed this after naming his squad to face Tanzania and Mozambique in two international friendlies next month. Bafana will host Tanzania, nicknamed the Taifa Stars, on 6 June at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. The second game against The Mambas, better known as Mozambique, will be on June 10th. Unveiling his 23-man squad, Broos provided an interesting reason as to why Kaizer Chiefs players have been excluded from the calls. Kaizer Chiefs team vs Stellenbosch FC at the Athlone Stadium. Image: SuperSport Website 'For me, at the moment I don't think I can select Kaizer Chiefs players, and I hope that they have a better season next year,' said Broos via FARPost . 'Yes, they've won the Nedbank Cup, but I think that was the only highlight of their season; the rest was not so good. So I don't think Kaizer Chiefs supporters are happy with winning just the cup. 'We have to be honest, and I don't have anything against Kaizer Chiefs, but I have to be honest with my choices. 'Most of the time, it hasn't been good for Chiefs; otherwise, a team like Kaizer Chiefs can't be number nine. They have to be number three, two, or one. It's up to them to make good performances next season, and play like I expect of a top team,' Broos added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
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.
