CECAFA’s only representatives in the 2023 AFCON Tanzania, will look at the recent giant-killings every single night of the the 24 team tournament and hope to do the same Wednesday evening as they kick off their third continental appearance against the giant and favorites to clinch it all – Morocco- at the Stade de San Pedro Stadium.Having clinched their way to the AFCON by the skin of their teeth, Tanzania, ranked 130 in the world, will have their hands full facing a team with high expectations in regards to their fourth placed finish in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, four wins out of their last five, and also by the fact that they are gunning for a title they last won in 1976.##NAJAVA_MECA_7805357##“Our preparations have been okay, we have tested ourselves well with a game against Egypt [ a 2-0 loss] and everyone is healthy for the game,” Tanzania skipper Mbwanna Samatta said in his pre-match interview, flanked by a familiar coach in Adel Amrouche, formerly of Kenya and Burundi, but an Algerian native who will want to spice up some North-African rivalry with Morocco. “Morocco is a big and difficult team, it is one of the best teams in Africa and the world at the moment, so we respect them but that does not stop us from going to fight them. One thing that brought us here is Tanzania to win this championship, ” added the experienced forward who featured for English Premier League side Aston Villa few years ago.Tanzania 🇹🇿 coach Adel Amrouche seems @TaifaStars_ as a team for the future with focus on AFCON 2027 that Tanzania will jointly host with Kenya 🇰🇪 and Uganda 🇺🇬 as he prepares to face Morocco 🇲🇦 on Wednesday #AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/Ai0kozl4lZ— Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) January 16, 2024 Walid Regragui on the other hand, understands the assignment in the 2000 EAT kickoff, and was outspoken in his interview saying: “We know we are expected to win. Everyone is waiting for us and when I said it, everyone talked about arrogance, but its the reality. It’s a status to assume and we’ve learned to play with it.”The Atlas Lions recently won in the last meet-up with Tanzania in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, and will fancy themselves against a team winless in their six group-stage games at the AFCON.Zambia vs DR CongoZambia’s last win in the AFCON came in the memorable win in 2015 against Ivory Coast that meant the prestigious trophy was following them back to Lusaka.On this occasion however, they come a rejuvenated side boasted by the attacking line-up of Leicester City poacher Patson Daka, who will be supported by Saudi-based forward Fashion Sakala and either Lecce winger Lameck Banda or another European-based attacker, Edward Chilufya.#AFCON2023 Group F opens on Wednesday. #TheCountdown #WeAreChipolopolo #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/cm0RBKztWs— FAZ (@FAZFootball) January 16, 2024 Their coach, Avram Grant, is an experienced man in this tournament having led Ghana to the runner-up position in 2015 and fourth place in 2017.He said: “I don’t like setting goals before a competition. The most important thing is how you approach your matches. We need to improve. I know it’s a difficult group with Morocco and DR Congo and there are teams better than us but football is not played on paper. When we go on the pitch, it will be to win,” Grant told CAFOnline.“We want to do well in matches. We have to be realistic. With my players, we know what we have to do. Our goal is to do well during the group stage and then we will see,” he added.Their opponents – DR Congo – are back in the competition after missing out in 2021 and off a 2-1 loss to Burkina Faso in a tune-up match.AFCON 2023: South Africa blames Mali’s physical game for lossThere have been 12 meetings between the two teams, with DR Congo having won just two of those games while Zambia have won double that tally.There have been six draws between the two teams.The Copper Bullets have kept just one clean sheet in their last five games in this fixture, and a win for either side should boost their confidence in making out of this group.Game kicks off at 2300 at Stade de San Pedro Stadium.AFCON 2023- GROUP STAGESaturday Ivory Coast – Guinea B. 2-0 (1-0)/Fofana 4, Krasso 58/SundayNigeria – Equatorial Guinea 1-1 (1-1)/Osimhen 38 – Salvador 36/Egypt – Mozambique 2-2 (1-0)/Mohamed 2, Salah 90+7 pen – Witi 55, Bauque 58/Ghana – Cape Verde 1-2 (0-1)/Djiku 56 – Monteiro 17, Rodrigues 90+2/MondaySenegal 3-0 Gambia (1-0)/Gueye 4, Camara 52, 86/Cameroon 1-1 Guinea (0-1)/Magri 51-Bayo 10/Algeria – Angola 1-1 (1-0)/Boundedjah 18 – Mabululu (p) 68/Tuesday Burkina Faso – Mauritania 1-0 (0-0)/Traore 90+5/Tunisia – Namibia 0-1 (0-0)/Hotto 88/Mali – S.Africa (0-0)/Traore 60, Sinayoko 66/Wednesday 20.00: (1.30) Morocco (5.80) Tanzania (12.0)23.00: (2.40) Dr Congo (3.20) Zambia (3.40)***odds are subject to change***17.00: (1.75) Burkina Faso (3.60) Mauritania (5.70)20.00: (1.40) Tunisia (4.60) Namibia (10.5)23.00: (2.15) Mali (3.25) S.Africa (3.90)Wednesday 20.00: (1.30) Morocco (5.80) Tanzania (12.0)23.00: (2.40) Dr Congo (3.20) Zambia (3.40)***odds are subject to change***
