TANZANIA national football team (Taifa Stars) head coach Hemed ‘Morocco’ Suleiman is optimistic his team can maintain their winning momentum as they face the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in their third match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Kinshasa this evening.

The Taifa Stars face a tough challenge against Group H leaders DR Congo, who have won both of their qualifiers so far, defeating Guinea 1-0 and Ethiopia 2-0. Tanzania, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Ethiopia before securing a vital 2-1 away win over Guinea.

Tanzania and DR Congo are familiar foes, having shared a group in the last AFCON finals earlier this year. The two sides are also set to meet again in Dar es Salaam on October 15 for the return leg, and they will face each other in the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, adding further significance to these encounters.

Tanzania, under coach Morocco, are seeking to qualify for back-to-back AFCON finals for the first time in their history, after making their last appearance in Ivory Coast. The 2025 AFCON will be hosted in Morocco, with matches scheduled in six cities, including Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech.

Speaking ahead of this evening’s match, Morocco expressed confidence in his team’s ability to secure a positive result.

“We’ve completed our preparations for the DR Congo match and are confident in our team’s ability to perform. Our players have valuable experience in these kinds of games and are well-equipped to handle the challenges,” said Morocco.

He added: “Our team is steadily improving, and we’re determined to showcase our progress against DR Congo. All our players are in top form, both physically and mentally, and we’re optimistic about securing a positive outcome.”

Currently, DR Congo leads Group H with six points from their two victories, while Tanzania sits in second place with four points from one win and one draw. Ethiopia is in third with one point, following a goalless draw against Tanzania, and Guinea is at the bottom, winless and without a point.

Tanzania will look to capitalize on their three remaining home matches at the iconic Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, which will be crucial in their bid for a fourth AFCON qualification.