Tanzania v Mozambique Preview the Dar battle

by
Collins Okinyo
July 18, 2014

By Administrator,

Tanzania’s Taifa Stars will be hosting Mozambique’s Mambas on Sunday in the first leg second round in a bid to qualify for Group B that has big guns Mali,Ethiopia and Impressive Algeria in the battle fora place in the AFCON 2015 . Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar Es Salaam will play host to the important game on Sunday.

Taifa Stars made it to the second round of the qualifier by beating Zimbabwe on a goal aggregate of 3-2, winning 1-0 at home and drawing 2-2 in Zimbabwe, while the Mambas eased their way by thrashing debutants South Sudan by an aggregate of 5-0 goals, they crushed the S. Sudan 5-0 at home and drew 0-0 in Sudan.

The two sides have had a fairly similar results in their previous matches, with Tanzania last five games, winning two and drawing two and losing one, while Mozambique have recorded one win, two draws and lost two in their last five matches.

In their last International friendly build up matches matches played in June 2014, Mozambique drew 1-1 with Malawi while Tanzania lost to Morocco 2-1.

Taifa Stars Dutch Head Coach Mart Ignatius Nooij who is well conversant with the Mamba’s having coached them and led them in to AFCON 2010, will be hoping to help Taifa Stars get better of his opponents in what is expected to be a cracker.The Dutch tactician is expected to rely on his foreign based players Mwinyi Kazimoto of Al-Markhiya (Qatar), Samata Mbwana and Thomas Ulimwengu both of TP Mazembe (DR Congo) to try and break the jinx of failing to qualify for AFCON in 1980.

The optimistic Dutch Tactician who just recently took over the mantle from Danish Kim Poulsen assured Tanzanians fans that he will use his wealth of experience on the job and push the team to the Success

Mozambique have made it four times to AFCON with the latest in 2010, The Mambas head Coach Joào Chissano will be aiming to eliminate Tanzania with their experience in AFCON, when relying on their bulk of professional players who mercilessly rained five goals past a hapless South Sudan, the likes of Antonio Diogo of Ferroviario (Brazil), Josemar Tiago, Apson Majante both of Bravos do Marques (Angola) and Edson Sitoe of Rennes (France).

Coach Joan Chissano is buoyant as he alluded to the fact that his charges were ready for the final phase of 2015 AFCON qualifier. in their match against the S. Sudan.

Tanzania and Mozambiqiue head to head stastistics are impressive they have posted similar results of 3 wins, four Draws and Losing 3 games each, the last result was a 1-1 draw in June 2012.

Currently, Mozambique is ranked at position 113th by FIFA while Tanzania closely follows at 118th

The second leg of the qualifier match will played on 2nd of August 2014 in Mozambique where the aggregate winner will move to the group stage E of AFCON qualifier in which it will play Zambia, Niger, and Cape Verde Island.

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Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com