Host nation Tanzania got their CHAN 2024 campaign off to a flying start with a confident 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in their opening Group B match on Saturday night at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
With the floodlights beaming and the stadium packed to capacity, the Taifa Stars delivered a performance worthy of the moment, energizing the home crowd and sending a strong signal to the rest of the competition.
Azam FC striker Abdul Hamisi Suleiman broke the deadlock with a well-taken penalty just before halftime, igniting celebrations across the venue. The breakthrough came after relentless pressure from the hosts, who dominated possession in the opening period.
Mohamed Hussein Mohamed then sealed the result with a powerful header in the 70th minute. Initially waved off, the goal was eventually awarded after a VAR review confirmed the ball had crossed the line — adding a layer of drama to an otherwise dominant display.
Tanzania now sit atop Group B, which also includes the Central African Republic, Madagascar, and Mauritania. The result gives the Taifa Stars a significant advantage heading into their next fixtures, and provides a morale boost for East Africa’s co-hosting contingent.
Elsewhere in the group, Madagascar will take on Mauritania on Sunday, while attention shifts to Group A in Kenya, where giants DR Congo face Zambia in the day’s early kick-off. Later, the spotlight will return to another host nation as Kenya welcomes Angola in a highly anticipated night clash in Nairobi.
The 2024 edition of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship — co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania — runs from August 2 to 30 and features only players active in their domestic leagues, offering a platform for local talent to shine on a continental stage.
