Tanzania maintains squad ahead of Flames visit
Malawi national football team coach, Ernest Mtawali, may wish to learn that Tanzania’s Taifa Stars have named an unchanged squad to host the Flames on October 7 in a World Cup qualifier.
Taifa Stars coach, Charles Mkwasa, has placed faith in the bunch that defied, at home, the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a barren draw in last month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Tanzania assistant coach, Hemed Morocco, told that country’s The Citizen newspaper that the only missing player is Abdi Banda of Simba, who is ill.
Banda has since been replaced by Azam FC’s Aishi Manula in the 24-member squad.
“We have resolved to maintain the squad with a view to building cohesion. We have selected players who we hope will propel Stars to victory over the Malawians,” Morocco is quoted as saying on www.thecitizen.co.tz/sports/coach.
“The only player missing in the list is Banda because he has been struck down by an illness, but we have a boost with the recovery of Manula. He is back in the team and will be in contention for a starting place.”
The rest of Tanzania squad members are home- based and they regroup this Friday.
The Flames should be wary of deadly striking pair of TP Mazembe’s Mbwana Samatta and Thomas Ulimwengu and South Africa-based Mrisho Ngasa of Free State Stars.
The overall winner over the two legs, including the October 11 game at the Kamuzu Stadium, will date Algeria in the next two-legged round in November. The two rounds will then pave the way for group stages.
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