Zanzibar, Tanzania: Tanzania’s national team, Taifa Stars, are gearing up to face off against Zambia on Wednesday at the New Amani Stadium in Zanzibar. The Taifa Stars are determined to secure a crucial victory that could propel them closer to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs.
As it stands in Group E, Tanzania currently occupies the second spot with 10 points, trailing behind Morocco, who have already secured their place in the next round with an impressive 21 points.
With Niger closely behind at nine points and Zambia in fourth place with six points, the pressure is on for the Taifa Stars to deliver a strong performance.
Taifa Stars’ and Young African SC forward Offen Chikola, expressed his excitement about representing his country after receiving a call-up to the national team camp at Gymkhana Stadium.
“I was very excited, but first of all, I thank God because it is a great achievement in my football life to be on the national team,” Chikola shared with the Tanzania Football Federation media.
His pride shines through as he reflects on the importance of being recognised for hard work at the club level. “As a player, when you perform well for your club, you are recognised by your country. This is my dream and I am very proud,” he added.
Chikola is fully aware of the challenge that Zambia presents, acknowledging their status and stature in African football. Despite this, he remains optimistic about Tanzania’s preparation and readiness for the match.
“This will be difficult because Zambia is a big country with a strong team. But we are preparing well under our coaches. We will fight for our nation and for our fans,” he stated resolutely.
As match day approaches, Chikola is rallying the support of Tanzanian fans, emphasemphasisingmportance of their presence in the stadium.
“I call on all Tanzanians to come out in large numbers on match day to support us. We rely on their energy, and together we can achieve victory,” he urged.
With the nation’s hopes riding on their performance, all eyes will be on the Taifa Stars as they seek to bolster their chances of advancing in the World Cup qualifiers.
The match against Zambia not only stands as a test of skill and strategy but also as a chance for Tanzania to unify through the love of the beautiful game.