U17 AFCON: Nsanganzelu hails players after Historic World Cup Qualification

Tanzania U17 national team head coach Elieneza Nsanganzelu praised his players for their determination and discipline after the Serengeti Boys secured historic qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup through their impressive performances at the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Speaking after Tanzania’s dominant 3-0 victory over Angola, the coach credited God, the players’ commitment, and teamwork for the success that has seen the country qualify for the global tournament for the first time in history.

He said the players followed the tactical instructions perfectly and managed to execute the game plan effectively against a physically strong Angolan side.

 

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“First of all, we thank God for giving strength and unity to our players. The boys showed great belief and managed to do everything we needed as a team,” the coach said.

The tactician explained that Tanzania entered the match with a clear understanding of Angola’s strengths and weaknesses after carefully studying their style of play.

According to him, the technical bench identified Angola’s aggressive pressing approach and focused on reducing that pressure by controlling possession and using space wisely.

“As you saw, we controlled the game because we studied them well and understood how they play. They tried to apply pressure, but we managed to reduce it and force them to play our game,” he added.

The coach also highlighted the importance of ball possession and movement, saying the players were instructed to remain calm whenever they had the ball and avoid unnecessary panic under pressure.

He noted that the large size of the pitch created more spaces, which Tanzania successfully used to their advantage through quick passing and movement between players.

“We trained our players to use spaces properly. When you have the ball, you must stay composed. The players understood that and managed to connect passes well and move forward together,” he explained.

The victory not only secured Tanzania a place in the quarter-finals but also booked the nation a historic ticket to the FIFA U17 World Cup later this year.

Nsanganzelu hails historic World Cup Qualification, calls for more youth investment.

The coach described the achievement as a proud moment for Tanzania and African football, saying he hopes the current generation will inspire many more young players in the future.

“This is a big moment for our country. It is history for Tanzanian football, and I believe others will come after this generation,” he said.

He also called on the government, the Tanzania Football Federation, and stakeholders to continue investing in youth football development to help young players reach higher levels in the future.

“These are hardworking young boys from humble backgrounds. They need support, education, and continuous training so they can grow into even better players and help Tanzania achieve more success,” he said.