By Grace Mulili
KARATU, Tanzania – Hosts Tanzania are the winners of the CECAFA pre-CHAN Tournament that ended at the Black Rhino Academy ground in Karatu on Sunday.
Taifa Stars kick started the tournament with a 1-0 win against Tanzania few days ago, and later saw off guest side Senegal 2-1 in the final match played on July 287th
Mapathe Mbodj gave Senegal, the defending champions of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) the lead after only 8 minutes.
Mbodj capaitalised on a mistake by Taifa Stars goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga and headed in.
Tanzania reorganized themselves and attacked in numbers, but the Senegal goalkeeper Mare Philips Arona Dioup was up to the task.
After recess Abdul Hamsi made it 1-1 when he converted a penalty after Iddi Suleimani had been wrestled down in the box. Ibrahim Hamad scored for Tanzania four minutes later to make it 2-1.
The win saw Tanzania finish top of the log in the CECAFA pre-CHAN Tournament with six points after they also beat Uganda Cranes 1-0 in the opening match. Uganda finished second with 3 points after their 2-1 victory over Senegal.
Hemed Suleiman, the Taifa Stars coach said he was very proud of his players for working hard and win the two matches.
Souleymane Diallo, the Senegal coach said that although they lost the two matches against Uganda and Tanzania, it was good they had the matches to test certain things ahead of the CHAN tournament.
The three teams used the tournament to prepare ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.
