Tanzania Taifa Stars  kept their hopes of qualification to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations alive with a 2-0 win over Cape Verde in a Group L qualifying match at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam on Tuesday.

Tanzania controlled the flow of play from the onset and should have taken the lead in the 23rd minute after the referee awarded them a penalty, but they failed to convert.

Luckily for the Tanzanians they were not made to pay for that miss when Saimon Msuva gave them the lead on the half hour mark after a clinical finish, 1-0.

Cape Verde tried to find their way back into the match before the break, but entered the half time tunnel trailing by a goal.

Tanzania had to weather a bit of a storm early in the second half as Cape Verde mounted attack after attack, but their defence stood firm.

Then, on the hour mark, and somewhat against the run of play, Tanzania were able to double their lead thanks to a goal from Mbwana Samata, 2-0.

Again, Cape Verde threw players forward after conceding a second goal, but Tanzania were able to hold on for their first win in Group L.

The result sees Tanzania move off the bottom of Group L into second place with five points while Cape Verde are third with four points.

Uganda top the group with seven points and Lesotho are last with two points, but these two nations are in action against each other later on Tuesday (the match is scheduled to kick-off at 18h00 CAT – make sure to check our site for the match report).