Country learns BSAFCON finals opponents at last

TANZANIA has learnt its opponents for the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (BSAFCON) finals, set to take place in Hurghada, Egypt, from October 19th to 26th.

The team has been drawn into Group A alongside host nation Egypt, Morocco and Ghana.

The draw took place in Cairo yesterday, with Tanzania competing against eight nations divided into two groups of four.

Group B features Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal and Malawi.

Tanzania’s Beach Soccer Coach, Jaruph Juma, has set an ambitious target for the tournament: reaching the semi-finals to qualify for the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

“Our goal is to reach the semi-finals, which will secure us a place in next year’s World Cup,” he stated.

Coach Juma expressed confidence in his team’s preparation, noting that morale is high among the players, who understand the importance of the upcoming matches.

“I am pleased with their work rate during training, and we currently have no injury concerns. We hope to maintain this status for optimal performance throughout the tournament,” he added.

He credited the team’s recent participation in the Beach Soccer Casablanca Cup 2024 in Morocco for enhancing their performance.

“Competing against strong teams like Morocco, Belgium and France provided us with valuable lessons.

“While our results weren’t ideal, we gained insights into our strengths and weaknesses, which will help us prepare for the BSAFCON finals,” he said.

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Juma also called on Tanzanians to support the team during the tournament, emphasising that their backing is crucial for the players’ motivation.

“Although we’ll be playing away from home, we urge all Tanzanians to stand behind us and wish us success as we pursue our goals,” he said.

Before heading to Egypt, the team plans to train in Oman, where they will participate in friendly matches to further refine their skills.