Only pride at stake as Stars fly to Lagos

Dar es Salaam. The national team (Taifa Stars) departs for Nigeria tonight with their star captain Mbwana Samatta expected to link up with teammates in Lagos tomorrow.

Samatta, who plies his trade for KRC Genk of Belgium, could not travel to Dar es Salaam owing to his club’s tight fixture list.

Taifa Stars face the Super Eagles in their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) group G qualifying match on Saturday at the Akwa Ibom Stadium.

Nonetheless, result of Saturday’s qualifier will count for nothing as Egypt have already picked the lone ticket from the group.

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) information and communications officer Alfred Lucas confirmed Stars departure yesterday saying that they will arrive in Lagos tomorrow, the same day Samatta is expected to land.

“The team will leave on Wednesday night and will arrive in Lagos on Thursday. If all goes well, Samatta will also arrive there on the same day,” he said.

“This is a dead rubber, but the coach (Charles Mkwasa) will not take lightly. A win over Nigeria, who are far above Stars in the Fifa rankings, will certainly earn us many points.

“We aren’t going there to play and lose; we want a positive result because it will help us in the next release of the Fifa rankings.”

On Monday, Mkwasa summoned JKT Ruvu goalkeeper Said Kipao to replace the team’s first choice shot-stopper Deogratius Munishi who lost his father on Sunday.

The preferred goalkeeper after Munishi was ruled out of the match is now Aishi Manula. He was voted the best goalkeeper of the season last month.

Speaking on Monday, Mkwasa called on his players to roll up their sleeves and beat the Super Eagles at their backyard.

“We know that neither Stars nor Eagles have a chance for the 2017 finals, but this is an international match and we would like to win. It is important for the status of the nation in the Fifa rankings,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chelsea winger Victor Moses arrived at the Super Eagles camp yesterday ahead of Saturday’s match.

Moses will be making a return to the Eagles after he was listed in the 23-man squad released by new handler Gernot Rohr recently.

He wrote on his Twitter handle on Monday: “After a great three points on Saturday now it is time for international week and I’m looking forward to seeing the lads tomorrow.”