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Tanzania Coach Hemed Gomandi Wary of Super Eagles Threat Ahead of AFCON 2025 Opener
Tanzania head coach Hemed Suleiman Gomandi has admitted his side faces a tough challenge against Nigeria ahead of their opening match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Taifa Stars will take on the Super Eagles in their Group A opener at the Fez Stadium, Fes, on Tuesday, December 23, with Gomandi acknowledging the quality and attacking threat posed by the Nigerian team.
Despite the daunting task, the Argentine tactician insists Tanzania are well prepared and ready to rise to the occasion.
“We are very well prepared, we are excited to be part of this AFCON and we are more than ready for tomorrow’s game,” Gomandi said. “We have a very difficult game, but it’s a nice challenge for us.”
Gomandi stressed the need for discipline and concentration, noting that any lapse against Nigeria could prove costly.
“We need to be very careful and work in a perfect situation. I’m sure my players will put in extra effort to contain the threat from Nigeria,” he added.
While recognising the strength of the Super Eagles, the Tanzania coach maintained that his team will not adopt a purely defensive approach.
“We need to be realistic. When you see the qualities in the Nigeria team, you need to put in more than 100 percent effort to try to neutralise them,” Gomandi explained.
“But our mentality is to try to play and attack as well. We need to be tactically disciplined and there should be no room for mistakes, because if you don’t avoid such mistakes, the qualities in the Nigerian team can punish you.”
The encounter is expected to set the tone for both teams’ AFCON campaigns as they battle for an early advantage in the group.
