- Tanzania picked two draws and a loss
- They played the last two matches without their head coach
- Morocco topped the group after beating Zambia
Tanzania say they are proud of their performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite exiting the competition in the group stages. Tanzania were eliminated after finishing bottom of their group with two points.
Tanzania lost their first match 3-0 to Morocco, but secured back to back draws against Zambia and DR Congo. Interim coach Juma Mgunda says the team picks the positives from their exit, saying they have shown maturity and improvement.
“It was a good game. We unfortunately couldn’t get a goal, but I am happy with the performance. The boys did well. It was good game even though we couldn’t get the desired result. We prepared to win this game, but it wasn’t easy,” Mgunda said after the match.
He added; “We got into good goal scoring areas and created so many chances but just could not convert. That is the nature of football. We played them three times before this competition, and I know how they play but I want to put this game behind us. We have identified our mistakes, and we will work on this”.
Tanzania Striker Simon Msuva says they leave the tournament heads high.
“We are pleased with our performance. Despite failing to progress, we have seen progress and we will plan better for the next tournament. I wish we could have qualified, but we will look to improve next time,” said Msuva, scorer of Tanzania’s lone goal at the tournament.
Tanzania draw impresses Congo’s Desabre
DR Congo players celebrate after qualification. pHOTO/CAF
Meanwhile, DR Congo Head coach Sebastian Desabre was satisfied with the bigger result of the game, qualification to the round of 16, but says there is still much to improve after a third consecutive draw.
“I am very happy for my players and the people of DR Congo. This competition started a year ago for us through the qualifiers. I am very proud of the team’s performance. When you have such unity in the team, you get the result and the fans and people at home will enjoy this,” the former Uganda Cranes coach stated.
He says the team had to make tactical adjustments to ensure they got a result, especially with Tanzania also in a must win situation and also giving a good account.
“We had to adjust our style of play slightly because this was a very decisive game. We tried our best and it was a very physically testing game, but we focused on what was important which was qualification,” the Frenchman added.
Morocco edge out Zambia to qualify
In the other group duel, highly fancied Morocco have qualified to the round of 16 as Group F winners following their hard earned 1-0 victory over Zambia in their final pool stage match in San Pedro.
Skipper Hakim Ziyech, in his 58th match for the Moroccan national team, scored the lone goal to hand his side three points to finish the group phase with seven.
Morocco. Already assured of qualification with four points from their first two games, needed to move top of the group while Zambia were in a must win situation as they just had two points.
Zambia started well and should have been in the lead in the 10th minute when Patson Daka raced to a ball lofted behind the defense, but he could not bring it down one on one with the keeper.
On the half hour, Emmanuel Banda tried his luck with a well taken left footed shot from range, but it flew straight to the keeper’s arms.
Morocco grew into the game as the half wore on and they broke the deadlock after 37 minutes when Ziyech thumped the ball home from the Zambian keeper spilled a cross from Hakim Ziyech.
They had some more chances at the start of the second half and Amine Adli saw his effort well saved by the keeper. On the other end, Lameck Banda came close for Zambia, with his curling shot from the edge of the box which trickled inches wide.
Late on, keeper Bono had to make a brilliant save to deny another long range effort from Emmanuel Banda. Despite efforts, Zambia couldn’t get even a goal.
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