Tanzania and Ethiopia are set to face off in a highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Wednesday, as both teams shift their focus towards securing a place in the 2025 tournament in Morocco. The Group H encounter will be held at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 pm CAT.
Tanzania, led by interim coach Hemed Suleiman, enters the contest riding a wave of positive momentum.
The Taifa Stars have shown improved form in recent months, remaining unbeaten in their last three outings.
This streak includes a vital 1-0 win over Zambia in a CAF World Cup qualifier in June, marking a significant upturn in their results since May.
Prior to their victory against Zambia, Tanzania edged past Sudan with another 1-0 triumph in an international friendly, and they followed that up with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against the same opponents on June 2nd.
These performances have rekindled hopes for a strong showing in the AFCON qualifiers, as the team looks to build on their recent successes.
Ethiopia, on the other hand, has faced a more difficult path this year.
Despite recording back-to-back draws against Guinea-Bissau (0-0) and Djibouti (1-1) in June’s World Cup qualifiers, positive results have been elusive for the Walyas.
The Ethiopian national team has managed just one win in 2024, a 2-1 friendly victory over Lesotho in March.
As they prepare to face Tanzania, coach Wubetu Abate will be looking to turn the tide and spark a resurgence in form.
Ahead of the match, Suleiman expressed his confidence in the condition and preparation of his squad.
“According to our medical staff, all players are in good condition and are adapting well to our training regimen,” Suleiman said.
“This isn’t new for us; our players are familiar with our approach, as some have participated in previous AFCON tournaments while others are pushing for their first appearance.”
Suleiman also emphasized the importance of fan support as his team seeks to continue its progress.
“I am optimistic that under our methods, we can create a strong team. We have been training since Thursday and are making steady progress.
Recognizing the significance of this match, we urge fans to come out in large numbers to support the team.”
This will be the first meeting between Tanzania and Ethiopia in AFCON qualifiers, but the two sides have a history of encounters on other stages.
The Walyas and the Taifa Stars last met in January 2013 during an international friendly, where Ethiopia emerged victorious with a 2-1 win in Addis Ababa.
The teams have also faced off in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) competitions, with Ethiopia winning one of their two meetings and the other ending in a draw.
For both Tanzania and Ethiopia, this qualifier marks a crucial step in their journey towards AFCON 2025.
Tanzania will be looking to maintain their momentum and capitalize on their home advantage, while Ethiopia hopes to break their recent run of poor form and ignite their campaign with a vital victory.
As the teams prepare to clash, fans on both sides will be eagerly awaiting what promises to be a tightly contested match.
