Tanzania coach Emmanuel Amuneke has played down the East African’s defeat to Senegal in their first Group C match of 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt, informing Completesports.com that despite the setback, his charges are still in strong contention for one of the qualification tickets in the group.
Amuneke will lead the Taifa Stars out on Thursday at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo against East African rivals, Kenya, at 9pm Nigerian time.
Senegal and Algeria are also billed to cross each other’s path earlier same day and venue, but at 6pm, Nigerian time.
Amuneke reckons that his players have put behind the disappointment of their defeat to the Terranga Lions and are now poised to give their all in the remaining two group games starting with Thursday’s crunchy clash against The Harambee Stars.
“We are not talking about the past (loss to Senegal),” the former African Footballer of the Year (1995) told Completesports.com in and exclusive chat.
“We can’t reverse any thing, we have to think and plan for the future.
“Our objectives for coming here is to do well, and irrespective of what happened in the match, I think we still have opportunity to make up with the remaining games and move to the next stage. That’s our objective.
“As human beings, we will do our best, and God who knows where we will reach even before coming here will take care of the rest,” the former Nigeria U17s coach who won the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile stated.
By Sab Osuji
