CHAN: Tanzania cannot afford complacency against Madagascar – Suleiman

Tanzania national team head coach Hemed Suleiman has cautioned his players against complacency when they face Madagascar in a crucial TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) clash at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Having kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 win against Burkina Faso and 1-0 win against Mauritania, Taifa Stars sit top of Group B with six points. A win or even a draw against Madagascar would be enough to guarantee their progression to the next round ahead of their final group match against the Central African Republic on August 16.

“Our objective is very clear: we want to win. We are approaching every match with the mind-set to get maximum points. We have won two games but we are not through yet. Today’s game is crucial,” said Suleiman as quoted by Daily News.

“We cannot afford to be complacent. Madagascar are a strong side and we know them well from the COSAFA Cup. We have studied them thoroughly and we understand their strengths and their weaknesses.”

On whether he is going to rotate his squad, Suleiman said: “It doesn’t matter who starts or who comes off the bench, all the players are in top condition and capable of delivering the same level of performance. That gives us an edge going into such a tight and important match.

“Mauritania played a very defensive, low-block style, and it tested us. But we learnt from that match, and we’ve trained specifically to ensure a more impactful performance against similar tactics.”

Burkina Faso are trailng Tanzania in second place with three points, while Madagascar and Mauritania are tied with one point apiece.