Tanzania coach Emmanuel Amuneke will on Monday, March 18 open the Taifa Stars’ training camp ahead of their March 24 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final group qualifier at home against the Cranes of Uganda, Completesports.com reports.
Tanzania will progress to their first AFCON finals in 39 years with a home victory of whatever margin against fellow East Africans, Uganda, who have already qualified for the continental showpiece. And Amuneke is not leaving any stone unturned in his efforts to lead Taiga Stars to glory.
The last time Tanzania featured in the biennial African festival of football was in 1980 in Lagos, with then Green Eagles planting the ball thrice in goalkeeper Pondamali’s net as Nigeria ran out 3-1 winners in their opening Group A clash.
Amuneke has already invited 25 players comprising home and foreign based stars to the Taifa Stars’ camp.
Tanzania giants, Simva FC, have three players in the squad, including goalkeeper Aishi Manila, midfielder Jonas Mkwude and John Bocco.
Among the foreign based players in the list are Mbwana Ali Samantha of Genk, Belgium, Tenerife of Spain duo of Shabami Iddi Chilunda and Fared Mussa, as well as Hamid Mao (Petrojet, Egypt), Yahya Zaydi (Ismaily, Egypt), Shiza Ramadchami (Enpi, Egypt), Thomas Ulimwengu of JS Saoura of Algeria, Rashid Mandawa of BDF X1 of Botswana, amongst others.
Amuneke told completesports.com from Dar Es Salam, capital of Tanzania, that they were determined to work hard and ensure victory for the East Africans desire to go to the Nations Cup finals in Egypt.
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“We want to play at the 2019 AFCON. That’s why we came here. It is human for one to do his best and expect God to lace his work of hand with His grace,” Amuneke told Completesports.com
“With His grace, we will reach our target. The people of Tanzania can’t wait further. They have shown the desire, the appetite to see their beloved team at the tournament.
“And with the love and support they have extended to this team, our objective of qualifying for the Nations Cup is tremendously overwhelming,” the former Nigeria international and 1994 AFCON winner stated.
