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Hosts Tanzania beat Senegal, the defending champions, 2–1 to cap off an impressive CECAFA Pre‑CHAN warm-up Tournament, claiming first place in the three-nation mini‑competition that attracted Uganda, the Taifa Stars, and Senegal but wasn’t lucrative enough for Kenya, Sudan and Congo Brazaville.
Senegal opened the scoring in the eighth minute through a header from Mapathe Mbodj, capitalizing on a misjudged punch by Tanzanian goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga.
Tanzania responded in the second half. Iddi Suleimani was fouled in the box, leading to a penalty converted by Abdul Hamsi. Four minutes later, Ibrahim Hamad broke through with a calm finish to give the Taifa Stars the lead and ultimately the win.
Tanzania finished the mini‑tournament undefeated with victories over Uganda (1‑0) and Senegal. Senegal, meanwhile, lost both games, while Uganda earned a consolation win over Senegal but ended second on goal difference.
Tanzania head coach Hemed Suleiman Ali hailed his team’s performance in the tournament but did not hold back on areas for improvement:
“I am very proud of my players. We still need to improve and be more clinical when chances come.”
Senegal coach Souleymane Diallo, despite the losses, appreciated the value of the competitive ground helping them test their tactical setups and plan adjustments:
“These matches helped test tactical setups and show what needs adjusting before CHAN.”
The CECAFA tournament in Arusha served as an important warm-up tournament for the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, co‑hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from August 2 to 30. Tanzania’s momentum stands as a statement of intent, while Senegal and Uganda continue fine-tuning ahead of the continental finals.
Tanzania’s Taifa Stars enter CHAN as CECAFA’s warmed‑up frontrunners, having won the Pre‑CHAN crown. The 2–1 comeback victory over Senegal reflects an improving team with tactical discipline and resilience. Ahead of the CHAN tournament, the triumph offers both momentum and critical insight into what we should expect.
