39 years after their last appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations, Tanzania will return to Africa’s biggest football showpiece and qualification for the Taifa stars had a Nigerian flavor to it, no thanks to Emmanuel Amunike.
Amunike was appointed head coach of the Tanzania national team in August 2018 with the immediate task of ensuring their qualification to the 2019 AFCON.
On 24th March he delivered on that, with an emphatic 3-0 win over Uganda on the final matchday inside a packed National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
With the Taifa Stars tied on points with Lesotho; it was a fight to the finish for second place in group L and it was the former who eventually delivered.
Lesotho couldn’t break Cape Verde, though the latter had nothing but pride to play for.
Tanzania have only once made an appearance in the competition; back in 1980, where they also couldn’t get past the first round.
Thus it seems the next task for the former Nigeria international, Emmanuel Amunike will be to ensure the Taifa Stars play beyond the group stage.
The 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be the first hosted in June and this edition will see 24 teams participate.
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