TANZANIA's Taifa Stars lost the chance to write history and get its first victory in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, which is held in Ivory Coast.

TANZANIA's Taifa Stars lost the chance to write history and get its first victory in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, which is held in Ivory Coast.

The squad settled for a 1-1 draw with Zambia who had 10 players left in the Group F match which took place at the San Pedro Stadium last weekend.

Taifa Stars got off to a bright start as they surged forward in numbers in the early stages.

Forward Simon Msuva scored Tanzania’s goal in the 11th minute, beating Zambia's keeper Lawrence Mulenga with a fierce shot after receiving a pass from Mbwana Samatta.

Leicester City FC striker Patson Daka equalized for Zambia in the 88th minute by heading home a corner kick from Clatous Chama and revived his team's hopes of reaching the round of 16.

Zambia had to play the entire second half with 10 players after defender Rodrick Kabwe was sent off for a second bookable offense- as he had fouled Mbwana Samatta in the 44th minute.

Chipolopolo's head coach brought in Tanzania-based players, midfielder Chama and striker Kennedy Musonda, who brought life to the team that had 10 players and finally managed to score an equalizing goal in the final minutes of the intense game.

Hemed Suleiman 'Morocco', currently serving as the interim head coach for Taifa Stars, expressed gratitude for the safe play and commended the players’ resilience after the challenging game. 

He pointed out: “The dynamics shifted, especially after the opponents received a red card, but we were prepared for a tough encounter.”

Despite a commendable first half where Taifa Stars took the lead and aimed to finish strong, the team anticipated a difficult match.

The second half presented heightened challenges as the opponent, Chipolopolo, came back with increased strength and speed.

'Morocco' highlighted a momentary lapse in concentration by his players in the final minutes, contributing to the match’s complexities.

Looking ahead, with one group game remaining, 'Morocco' maintained optimism about progressing to the next stage.

The tactician stated: “Despite the challenges faced, believe in the team’s capabilities and preparation. I’m confident in their ability to secure advancement in the tournament.”

In reflection on the match, Mbwana Samatta, Tanzania's skipper, conveyed the team’s initial optimism.

The attacker said: “There was a time when we believed we could secure a victory, but despite our determined efforts, luck did not favor us. We fought hard, but the outcome didn’t align with our expectations.”

Despite the disappointment, Samatta remained focused on the team’s future, acknowledging: “We have one more game ahead of us, and our primary goal is to secure three points to propel us forward.

The skipper insisted: "The crucial aspect now is to strategize on how we can achieve this in our upcoming match.”

After the final whistle, Samatta reinforced the team’s resilient spirit, stating: “Nothing can change the significance of this result. Our attention is already on the next game, and we are committed to learning from our experiences and giving our best to secure a positive outcome in the upcoming challenge.”

Zambia’s national team head coach Avram Grant attributed the team’s shortcomings during the 90 minutes of the game to a series of unfortunate events.

He emphasized the impact of playing short due to an unnecessary red card, expressing frustration that the card, which he believed shouldn’t even have been a yellow, disrupted their strategic plans for the match.

The coach further contended that the initial yellow card was also undeserved, compounding the challenges faced by the team throughout the game.

In response to the perceived injustices, Zambia’s coach, Avram Grant, has taken issue with the referee, contending that the officiating played a role in denying them victory.

Grant is urging the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

Despite the setback, he acknowledged the formidable nature of the opposing team, praising Tanzania as a formidable opponent with a roster of talented young players.

In summary, Grant attributed the team’s struggles to a controversial red card and an undeserved yellow card, expressing dissatisfaction with the officiating.

He is now advocating for CAF intervention. He commended Tanzania’s prowess, acknowledging the difficulty of facing a skilled team with talented young players.

The draw saw Chipolopolo remain third on the group standings and they will book their spot in the Round of 16 if they secure a win over Morocco on January 24 in what will be their last group stage match.

Tanzania, on the other hand, remained at the bottom of the standings and they can only progress to the knockout phase if they defeat DR Congo on January 24 and the other results go their way.

In Group F’s other tie, DR Congo denied the opportunity to tournament favourites, Morocco, to get three points to assure themselves of going to the second round after forcing a 1-1 draw.

Achraf Hakimi had given Atlas Lions the lead in the 6th minute and offered hope of victory but their happiness was extinguished in the evening- as was the case for Zambia against Tanzania- as Silas Mvumpa's goal ensured that DR Congo held Morocco to a 1-1 draw.

Until now, Morocco is leading Group F with four points, followed by DR Congo and Zambia with two points and Tanzania is at the bottom with one point.