Taifa Stars striker Thomas Ulimwengu (right) makes his way past defender Zainadine Junior of Mozambique during a past international friendly match at the National Stadium. He is among players the national team banks on for goals in today’s match against Benin. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
Benin have been in the country since Thursday, undergoing light training in the city for the match. It kicks off at 5:pm. But Nooij should not expect a win on a silver platter as Benin head coach Didier Ollé-Nicolle has unveiled the world class players for today’s encounter.
Dar es Salaam. Taifa Stars head coach Mart Nooij says only a win over Benin in today’s international friendly match will make up for the national team’s embarrassing show in their last two matches.
Nooij’s boys, who went down 2-1 to Mozambique before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Burundi, confront Benin at the National Stadium in what promises to be an exciting encounter. “We were all disappointed after losing to Mozambique and Burundi, but it is important to focus on the Benin match and forget about what happened in our last two friendlies,” the Dutch tactician said as Stars prepared for the game yesterday.
“We will once again head into the match as underdogs,” he admitted. “But it is important to get a win and restore our dented pride,’ he added.
Benin have been in the country since Thursday, undergoing light training in the city for the match. It kicks off at 5:pm. But Nooij should not expect a win on a silver platter as Benin head coach Didier Ollé-Nicolle has unveiled the world class players for today’s encounter. Thirteen of the 18 Les Écureuils players ply their trade in Europe with English Premier League and French’s Ligue One.
Among the world-class players expected to play at the 60,000-seater facility is midfield kingpin Stephane Sessegnon of West Bromwich Albion. Apart from Sessegnon, Ollé-Nicolle has in his squad the likes of Sessi D’almeida, David Djigla (FC Girondis Bordeaux, France) and Steve Mounie (HSC Montpellier, France).
Against Mozambique’s Mambas at the National Stadium nearly two months ago, Stars were not impressive. And it came as no surprise when they lost the game. In last month’s match against Burundi in Bujumbura, it was shown once again that they just have much ground to cover to restore their dented pride.
Another disappointing performance could mean trouble for Nooij and his team, especially now that they are shaping up for the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.
Most of the players making up the Stars feature for Tanzania Mainland’s Kilimanjaro Stars in the Challenge Cup.
Benin coach Olle Didier Nicolle promised a tough match yesterday, but remained optimistic that the west Africans will floor their hosts.
Stars will be unfortunate not to have on board striker Mbwana Samatta who plays for DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.
Samatta, one of the players Stars bank on for goals, is still nursing a knee injury he sustained during one of TP Mazembe’s recent matches.
This means Stars will have only two professional players in today’s game- Thomas Ulimwengu who also features for TP Mazembe and Mwinyi Kazimoto who plies his trade with Al Markhiya of Qatar.
“I know that Benin is among the best teams in Africa, but we know how to contain star-studded outfits. Tanzanians should expect positive results tomorrow (today),” he insisted.
