Tanzania’s slim hopes of qualifying for 2012 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals were further dented after they played out a 1-1 draw against Algeria at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam during match day 5.
Jan Poulsen’s side needed nothing short of victory to revive their hopes of sneaking into the next year’s finals after an almost 31 year absence.
The hosts were in control when Nizar Khalfan set up Mbwana Samatta to open the scoring in the 22nd minute of game.
But the Desert Warriors laid siege to the Taifa Stars goal in the second-half and got the goal their pressure deserved when Hameur Bouazza levelled for the "Greens" in the 56th minute.
Following the result, Tanzania and Algeria remain in 3rd and 4th places respectively with 5 points separated by goal difference. Both sides now await the Group’s other match on Sunday in Bangui, between the co-leaders Central African Republic and Morocco, both these teams have seven points.
The draw was the latest disappointment Taifa Stars’ coach Dane Jan Poulsen, who was clearly not comfortable with the team’s preparations before the yesterday’s penultimate round in the Africa qualifiers at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
However, his pre-match frustrations were little reflected in the game as Stars displayed their best football in recent matches.
The match got off strongly with the visitors knocking off long balls that, however, could not trouble a tight Stars’ defence.
Poulsen had deployed a double holding midfield of Henry Joseph and Shaaban Nditi and they provided a perfect cover up for a central defence pair of Juma Nyosso and Aggrey Morris. Just five minutes on, Henry Joseph combined well with Danny Mrwanda.
Their quick interchanging of passes left ‘Desert Foxes’ defenders flat footed, but keeper Mbolhi Rais was quick to react and knock the ball for a corner kick. The home side maintained the pressure and missed some chances in the first half. Khalfan’s long range on the stroke of half time was tipped over the bar by busy Rais.
The keeper pulled off another superb save to keep out the in-form Samatta’s powerful 20 yard shot 17 minutes from time. Stars had to wait until after 22 minutes, when Danny Mrwanda strode past defenders, only to release Khalfan on the right side.
The Vancouver whitecaps and Stars’ playmaker floated a right wing cross that was coolly met and tapped home into the air by Samatta. Stars dominated the first half but failed to hold on to their lead and on the stroke of the second half Bouzid Ismail played in substitute Hameur, who beat on rushing keeper Juma Kaseja with a clever chip. It was a combination of blunder between defenders and goalkeeper, as skipper Shadrack Nsajingwa was slightly sluggish to react and stop Hameur, forcing Kaseja to rush out from his line.
No comments:
Post a Comment