TANZANIA national football team (Tiafa Stars) head coach, Hemed ‘Morocco’ Suleiman, remains optimistic about his team's chances of reversing their fortunes against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Last week, Taifa Stars fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against DRC in Kinshasa, with a Clement Mzize own goal proving decisive. Despite the setback, Coach Morocco is confident that his team can turn things around, emphasizing the need for accountability and unity as they prepare for the rematch.

"We have analyzed DRC's playing style and identified opportunities we can exploit," said Morocco. "Taifa Stars must maintain our momentum and strong tactical performance. In matches like these, quality can be the deciding factor. We need to be at our best, converting every scoring opportunity and remaining patient in defense. By forcing DRC into mistakes, we can gain the upper hand."

Reflecting on the previous match, in which Tanzania adopted a more defensive strategy while DRC controlled possession, Morocco said his team is ready to adjust and be more clinical. He stressed the importance of capitalizing on every chance, especially against a side boasting many European-based players.

"We’ve worked hard during training to correct the mistakes from the last game. I’m pleased with the team’s effort and believe we'll have a fantastic match on Tuesday. The key is to protect the ball and avoid unnecessary long balls that play into DRC’s hands,” Morocco added.

As Taifa Stars prepare for back-to-back qualifiers against DRC, a win in tomorrow's encounter could significantly boost Tanzania's chances of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON finals. Currently, the DRC leads Group H with nine points, while Tanzania sits second with four, just ahead of Guinea (three points) and Ethiopia (one point).

Morocco also acknowledged the crucial role fans will play in the match, urging them to show up in large numbers. 

“Our fans are invaluable. Their presence gives us energy, like having a 12th player on the field. I’m confident that with their support, our players will deliver a strong performance.”

Tanzania’s advantage in the qualifiers lies in their upcoming home matches, with three of their remaining four fixtures to be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. This includes tomorrow’s clash against DRC, a key match against Ethiopia, and the final Group H showdown against Guinea on November 18.

Taifa Stars will face Ethiopia at a familiar venue after the Ethiopian FA chose Benjamin Mkapa Stadium as their home ground for the qualifiers. Tanzania will look to improve on the goalless draw they played out in the last meeting with Ethiopia.

To secure qualification, Tanzania will need to capitalize on their home advantage and avoid any further slip-ups. A victory tomorrow will be crucial in maintaining their push for a place in the AFCON finals in Morocco next year.