More pledges for Taifa Stars as Mauritania take on Burkina Faso

Dar es Salaam. Azam Media Limited has announced a significant reward package for the Taifa Stars as they compete in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024. The company will award the players Sh50 million if they win the CHAN title.

In addition to this, Azam Media Limited has pledged Sh10 million to the team upon reaching the semi-final stage, and another Sh10 million if they advance to the final. The firm has already rewarded the team Sh10 million for qualifying to the quarter-finals.

According to Gerson Msigwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports and Government Spokesperson, these incentives further build on the momentum created by President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s pledge of a Sh1 billion reward if the Taifa Stars win the championship on home soil.

Msigwa praised Azam Media Limited for their generous initiative and urged all Tanzanians to rally behind the national team.

“I urge all Tanzanians to support President Samia’s vision for developing sports in our country. Let us fill the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam and the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar to energize our team and celebrate this historic tournament together,” said Msigwa.

Besides the President’s incentives, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila has pledged Sh20 million to the players, while local business leaders have committed Sh25 million for every match won by the team.

With these growing pledges, the Taifa Stars are well motivated to defend their CHAN crown and bring glory to Tanzania once again.

Meanwhile, the race to join the Taifa Stars in qualifying from Group B at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) reaches a crucial turning point today, with two decisive matches set to unfold at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Tanzania, comfortably leading the group with nine points, has already sealed their place in the quarterfinals.

However, the battle for the remaining qualification spot remains wide open among the other three contenders, setting the stage for an intense day of football drama.

At 5pm, Madagascar—still recovering from a heavy defeat against Tanzania—will host the Central African Republic, currently anchored at the bottom of the group with two losses.

Despite their struggles, the Central African Republic still harbor hopes of reaching six points if they can secure victories in their remaining fixtures. Later, at 8pm, Mauritania, boosted by a morale-boosting win against the Central African Republic, will face off against Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso currently hold three points following their own victory over the same opponent and will be eager to keep their quarterfinal dreams alive.

For Mauritania, today’s match serves as a virtual group decider. A win would elevate them to seven points and second place, leapfrogging Madagascar, which will have played three matches, just like Burkina Faso and Central African Republic.

All of today’s games carry immense weight. Mauritania, in particular, must secure victory to complete their four matches and cement a strong points total, while their rivals still have one match remaining after today, just like Tanzania.

The Central African Republic’s hopes of survival hang by a thread; a loss today would see them become the first team eliminated from this tournament jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

Yet, they face a daunting challenge against a Madagascar side that has impressed with its style — drawing with Mauritania despite playing a man down and narrowly losing 2-1 to Tanzania.