Here is Taifa Stars roadmap to 2025 AFCON finals

TANZANIA: TAIFA Stars are on the right path to earn a record fourth time qualification of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals as they face crucial matches prior to reaching the ‘Promised Land’.

After picking four points in their two opening Group H games against Ethiopia and Guinea, it is crystal clear that the envoys just need at least two more wins to collect six points from their remaining four encounters.

Their recent 2-1 away success over Guinea was a turning point for Stars’ move towards the right path of sealing a fourth AFCON finals slot, since it awarded them the priceless triumph.

A draw or defeat against Guinea could not have been good at all, as such they just need to concentrate on the upcoming encounters to make the most of them.

However, the country’s flag bearers are gearing up to play two back-to-back tense 2025 AFCON qualifiers fixtures against Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with possible six points hanging by thread.

The duo interface in the first leg duel at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, DRC on October 10th, before a rematch at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on October 15th.

At this juncture, one can conclude that DRC are the ones holding keys for Taifa Stars to sail through to Morocco where the AFCON finals will be staged next year.

Just like what happened against Guinea, not many believed that Taifa Stars would bag maximum points from them, but what transpired in the 90 minutes of play proved the doubters wrong.

Who knows, the same scenario can happen at Stade des Martyrs against DRC, which of course can be a big boost for Tanzania as far as the qualifiers are concerned.

Another advantage that goes in Taifa Stars’ favour is the fact that three of their four remaining games will unfold at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, hence an opportunity to grab nine fresh points from the home turf.

This is so, because Ethiopia have already picked Benjamin Mkapa Stadium to host their home AFCON qualifier games and in their next game against Taifa Stars, the showdown will be played at the same venue, with them hosting the clash.

In their first leg that elapsed in a barren draw, Taifa Stars hosted the encounter and this time, it will be the turn of Ethiopia to welcome their opponents who undoubtedly will have full backing from Tanzanian fans.

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Similarly, Guinea will descend in the country on November 18th to play against Tanzania and this will be the last qualifying fixture in Group H for Taifa Stars, a game that the home side should plan to win at all cost.

Strategically, basing on the way these matches have been arranged and that three of them will unfold in the country, one can see light at the end of the tunnel, meaning that it is just a matter of time before reaching in Morocco.

“As a nation, our top mission is to qualify for the upcoming AFCON finals… we want to make it a habit of reaching in the finals in order to build confidence among our players,” said the Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports, Damas Ndumbaro, in one of his past interviews.

He added that the country’s envoys have everything at their disposal in terms of full backing from the government and other relevant stakeholders, hence it is up to the players to sacrifice for their nation on the pitch.

“I personally have no doubt that we are going to make another breakthrough to step into the AFCON finals and this will give us much needed confidence ahead of the 2027 AFCON edition which we shall host alongside Kenya and Uganda,” he said.

Furthermore, Ndumbaro noted that government will continue to ensure that Taifa Stars has full backing in order to make their ambition of stepping to next year’s AFCON edition possible.

Similarly, legend player Bakari Malima, highlighted that Taifa Stars should just aim for two wins and at least one draw in their remaining games to collect 10 points enough to see them through to the finals.

“It was great that we won our previous match against Guinea because it cleared our path towards earning qualification and I can see us making it through to the AFCON finals next year,” said Malima.