Samatta to miss Tunisia match
What you need to know:
- African football governing body (Caf) has allowed soccer fans to attend the match pitting Taifa Stars and Tunisia to be held on November 13 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
Dar es Salaam. National soccer team, Taifa Stars, skipper Mbwana Samatta will miss the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Tunisia due to injury. The match is scheduled to take place on Friday.
Fenerbahce’s Samatta, who picked the injury in the Turkish Premier League match against Konyaspor, who won 2-1, was substituted in the 69th and replaced by Ferdi Kadioglu.
Speaking with The Citizen on the phone yesterday, Taifa Stars team manager Nadir “Cannavaro” Haroub said Samatta reported in the camp, but did not train with teammates due to the injury.
Haroub explained that although they are awaiting Samatta’s final medical examination report from the team’s doctors, his condition will not allow him to feature in the encounter. “It is a big blow to miss the team’s captain and influential player. However, the other players are in good shape at the camp ahead of the encounter against Tunisia,” said Haroub. According to Haroub, Taifa Stars will leave Turkey today for Tunisia, where they will also train and acclimatize to weather conditions. The players leaving Turkey today are Juma Kaseja, Metacha Mnata, Aishi Manula, David Mapigano, Shomary Kapombe, Deus Kaseke, Mohamed Hussein, Bryson David and Bakari Mwamnyeto.
Also on the list are Abdallah Kheri, Abdallah Shaibu, Jonas Mkude, Himid Mao, Erasto Nyoni, Simon Msuva, Ditram Nchimbi, Feisal Toto and Ally Msengi.
John Bocco, Mzamiru Yassin, Iddy Suleiman, Thomas Ulimwengu, Farid Mussa, Said Ndemla, Salum Abubakar and Adam Adam are also making the trip.
Taifa Stars are placed third in Group J after collecting three points from two matches. The team tie with Libya, who have also three points. Tunisia are at the top in the group with six points after winning two matches while Equatorial Guinea are at the bottom.
The team will return home soon after the encounter for a return leg against Tunisia on November 18 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Meanwhile, the African football governing body (Caf) has allowed soccer fans to attend the match pitting Taifa Stars and Tunisia to be held on November 13 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
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By Majuto Omary @majutoy2k [email protected]
