Tanzania round off group with draw as Suleiman rotated and assessed squad
Tanzania rounded off their group campaign at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) Pamoja 2024 with a goalless draw against the Central African Republic, a result that mattered little to the Taifa Stars but carried deep significance for their opponents.
Having already secured qualification for the quarter-finals, coach Hemed Suleiman used the match to rotate, assess his squad and prepare for the challenges ahead, while CAR celebrated their first-ever point in the competition. Suleiman insisted the stalemate offered valuable lessons.
“We thank God for qualifying for the quarter-finals. We entered the match as qualified teams. It was a good thing, and it was also a good lesson for us for the future,” he said. Acknowledging the resilience of their opponents, he added: “We played a good match, and we must learn lessons in training after this match, which was a good lesson for us. The Central African Republic team always plays well.”
For the Central African Republic, the draw was about pride and progress.
Coach Sebastien Ngato revealed the message he gave his squad: “Before the match, I said that losing is forbidden, and if we can snatch just one point to boost the team’s morale, that would be good. I thank our players for defending our honor and securing a point in the tournament.”
Ngato hailed the tournament as historic for CAR football, noting their recent strides at youth level.
“This is a great year for us, because we reached the finals with the under-17 and under-20 teams, and we participated in this tournament,” he said.
While Tanzania look ahead to the knockout rounds, CAR depart with their heads held high, having taken an important step in their football journey.
