CHAN: Tanzania ready for quarterfinal match against Morocco – Suleiman

Tanzania national team coach Hemed Suleiman insisted that his players are prepared, both mentally and physically, to match Morocco stride for stride when they face off in the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies African Nations (CHAN) at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Friday.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Tanzania and Morocco at CHAN, and Tanzania’s first match against North African opposition in the competition.

“We’ve finished the group stage. We know how to play now. After four matches, we have no problems. Scoring five goals in the group stage is not easy. Everyone is ready for the quarter-final match against Morocco,” he said as quoted by CAFOnline.com.

“Our players are physically and mentally prepared to face any team. The match against Morocco will be difficult. We respect them, but we are not afraid. We want to surprise them.”

He continued: “We’ve faced many teams in this tournament, and now we must enter with a variety of tactical plans. Sometimes matches are tactical, and tactical plans determine the outcome. It will be an open match against Morocco, and we’ll do our best to win.

“In football, fans can give you two things: positive or negative pressure. For us, the presence of our fans gives us motivation and energy to achieve what is required. If we can give them something to make them happy, it is to reach their goal.”

At this tournament, Morocco lost 1-0 to Kenya – their only defeat to East African opposition. Morocco are facing an East African side in the knockout rounds for the first time.