U17 AFCON: Serengeti Boys ready for crucial Angola clash, coach calls for national support

Tanzania U-17 national team coach Elieneza Nsanganzelu has expressed confidence in his players’ readiness ahead of today’s crucial U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (U17 AFCON) Group C encounter against Angola in Morocco.

Speaking ahead of the match, the coach said preparations have gone according to plan and the players are fully focused on securing a positive result in what is expected to be a difficult contest.

The coach revealed that one of the key areas the team has been working on is adapting to the match conditions, especially because the game will be played earlier in the day compared to their previous fixture.

He explained that the technical bench used today’s training session to help the players adjust physically and mentally to the environment and timing of the match.

“Everything has gone well and the boys are ready. We are now only waiting for match time because we will play much earlier than before,” he said.

“Today we trained hard so the players can adapt well to the conditions and be fully prepared for tomorrow’s game.”

The Serengeti Boys head into the encounter with confidence after opening their AFCON U17 campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over Mozambique.

That win placed Tanzania at the top of Group C with three points, while Angola and Mali both collected one point following their goalless draw in the group’s opening fixture.

Despite the strong start, the coach admitted that Angola will present a different challenge due to their pace, aggressive style of play and attacking threat.

He therefore urged Tanzanians to continue supporting the team as the players aim to represent the nation proudly on the continental stage.

“I ask Tanzanians to continue giving us support. The boys are ready and prepared to fight for the nation,” he added.

“Everyone should continue praying for us so that we can perform well and finish tomorrow’s match successfully.”

 

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The Serengeti Boys are aiming to make history by progressing beyond the group stage for the first time after previous appearances in 2017, 2019 and 2025 ended in the opening round.

With more qualification slots available for the FIFA U17 World Cup, Tanzania’s young stars know that a victory against Angola would significantly boost their chances of advancing to the knockout stage and moving closer to securing a place at the global tournament.