Tanzania battle odds, pricking Cranes

Tanzania currently occupy the place that had for a long time been synonymous with Cranes, a place of approaching your most important match completely out of control.
The Taifa Stars, of course, face coach Sebastien Desabre’s Uganda tomorrow a far better side than they did in the goalless draw in Kampala last year.
Then, Simba players headlined by striker John Bocco missed out through a team suspension, leaving the burden to craft something at a venue few visitors afford a smile to captain Mbwana Samatta.
But even then, the task for the Taifa Stars is quite overwhelming. Coach Emmanuel Amunike’s men can beat the already qualified Uganda and still do not make it to Egypt 2019 finals.
That’s how insurmountable it looks. For them to progress for the first time since 1980, Taifa Stars have to supplement their ‘beating’ of Uganda – who will be making their seventh Afcon finals in Egypt in June/July – with prayers in the other encounter between Cape Verde and Lesotho.
At 13 points – eight ahead of the chasing pack - from five matches, Uganda are out of sight, yet the other trio of Tanzania, Lesotho and Cape Verde all enter the final day of qualification tomorrow with a chance to still make it.
A Tanzanian victory will have to be complemented by a draw or Cape Verde victory in Praia for Amunike’s men to progress.
A win for Lesotho will be enough for them to qualify no matter what happens between Tanzania and Uganda, while a Cape Verde victory and Cranes beating Taifa Stars would also see the Islanders miraculously make it alongside Desabre’s men.
“All I am asking for is for Tanzanians to continue to supporting Taifa Stars with prayers for the team to down Uganda Cranes and sail through,” rallied Paul Makonda, the chairman of a special committee formed to ensure the Taifa Stars qualify for the finals.
“In football, fans are the 12th player for the home team. I, therefore, call upon Tanzanians to give Taifa Stars the support they need to shine on Sunday,” he added. Uganda’s only victory in Tanzania in this competition was in 1984, a 1-0 win in the 1986 qualifiers. Tanzania have fallen to the Cranes 26 times overall, winning only 10.
In this particular competition, Tanzania have beaten Uganda two times fewer than their counterparts (four wins for Cranes), but with what is at stake for Samatta and company, the most absorbing encounter awaits Africa.

Tanzania squad
Goalkeepers: Aishi Manula (Simab SC), Mechata Mnata (Mbao FC), Aron Kalambo (TZ Prisons), Suleiman Salula (Malindi FC)
Defenders: Vincent Andrew (Young Africans), Kelvin Yondani (Young Africans) Vincent Philipo (Mbao FC), Hassan Kessy (Nkana FC, Zambia), Gadiel Michael (Young Africans), Aggrey Morris (Azam FC), Kennedy Wilson (Singida Utd), Ali Sonso (Lipuli FC)
Midfielders: Himid Mao (Petrojet FC, Egypt), Mudathir Yahya (Azam FC), Jonas Mkude (Simba SC), Simon Msuva (El Jadida), Shiza Kichuya (ENPPI SC), Farid Mussa (Tenerife), Feisal Salum (Young Africans)
Forwards: Thomas Ulimwengu (JS Saoura, Algeria), Rashid Mandawa (BDF XI, Botswana), Shaaban Idd Chilunda (Tenerife, Spain) Yahya Zaid (Ismaily, Egypt), John Bocco (Simba SC), Mbwana Samatta (Genk, Belgium).