Labaran Wasanni
Tanzania/Nigeria: Mkwasa Picks Taifa Stars Squad Tuesday to Face Eagles
The national soccer team, Taifa Stars, will move into a one-week residential training in Dar es Salaam on August 1, to prepare for their 2017 Africa Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifiers clash against Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
On Tuesday, Stars coach, Charles Boniface Mkwasa, will name the players who form the squad the mere formality Group G match in Lagos on September 2, this year Mkwasa popularly known as ‘Master,’ said the camp aims to prepare players psychologically and technically for the away game. He said Stars will then regroup for another camp at the end of August, few days before the team’s departure to Lagos.
“My squad will involve majority of youth because I believe in their ability to excel,” he said, adding that he will also scout for more quality players when the Mainland Premier League starts next month. Seven-time African champions Egypt have already qualified for the finals in Gabon after finishing top of the group on ten points.
Taifa Stars are bottom of the group with only one point, while Nigeria have two points. After Chad’s withdrawal, the runners-up can no longer qualify as one of the two runners-up with the best records, as any groups reduced to just three teams have only the group winner qualifying for the finals and are not considered when determining the best secondplaced teams.
