Veteran defender Shomari Kapombe turned national hero on Wednesday night as his 89th-minute strike secured Tanzania a dramatic 1-0 victory over Mauritania, putting the hosts within touching distance of the quarter-finals at the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN).
In a tense and tightly contested Group B fixture under the floodlights at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, it was Kapombe—one of the most experienced players in the squad—who provided the breakthrough when nerves were beginning to fray. The Simba SC star latched onto a pinpoint through ball from Iddy Nado and coolly placed it beyond Mauritanian goalkeeper Abderrahmane Sarr, sending the home crowd into frenzy.
The result lifted Tanzania to six points from two games, after an earlier 2-0 win over Burkina Faso, and confirmed them as one of the tournament’s early frontrunners.
Mauritania’s Hopes Hang by a Thread
For Mauritania, the loss leaves their qualification hopes in jeopardy. With just one point from two games, they now face a must-win scenario in their final group match, needing both a victory and help from other results to progress.
Tanzania, on the other hand, will enter their final group game with confidence and the backing of a home crowd that is beginning to believe in a deep run.
