Do or die clash at AFCON 2023
In a high-stakes encounter at the Laurent Pokou Stadium on Sunday, January 21, Zambia and Tanzania gear up for a crucial clash in the Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023, each aiming for their maiden win of the competition.
Zambia, following a hard fought 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opener, faces off against Tanzania's Tafia Stars, who suffered a setback with a 3-0 defeat to Morocco.
The spotlight shines on Hemed Suleiman, stepping in for the suspended Adel Amrouche as they confront the 2012 champions, who put up a solid display against DR Congo last week.
Tanzania, yet to advance beyond the group stages in previous editions, encounters Zambia for the third time in this tournament, contrasting with Zambia's 18th appearance.
Avram Grant, the seasoned coach leading Chipololopolo, aims to build on their impressive display against DR Congo,saying, "The most important thing in football is the next match. We started well against DR Congo, but the focus now is Tanzania. This meeting is crucial as we seek a victory to enhance our chances of progressing. We have our distinct style of play, aspiring to advance and score goals consistently. Tanzania is a formidable team, and we anticipate a challenging match."
Hemed Suleiman, Tanzania's stand in coach, said, "After the match against Morocco, we mentally and physically prepared our team. We've addressed our issues and are ready to face Zambia. It's a formidable team with talented players, but we have our objectives for this tournament. It's a significant responsibility for me to be here, always prepared for such situations given the head coach's absence."