THE Tanzania national football team, Taifa Stars, led by head coach Hemed ‘Morocco’ Suleiman, has declared its readiness to face any opponent in the upcoming CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.

This announcement comes ahead of the group stage draw, scheduled to take place today at 8:00 PM local time at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

Tanzania is set to co-host the CHAN tournament alongside Kenya and Uganda from February 1 to 28, 2025. 

This eighth edition of the competition is a historic first for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), being jointly hosted by three nations.

The tournament will feature 18 qualified teams, including African football powerhouses such as reigning champions Senegal, who won the title for the first time by defeating Algeria in the 2022 final in Algiers.

For Taifa Stars, CHAN 2024 presents an opportunity to break a long-standing pattern of underperformance. In their two previous appearances (2009 and 2020), the team failed to advance past the group stage, a streak they aim to end this year.

Coach Morocco (pictured) remains confident and calm as he prepares his squad, stating that the team feels no undue pressure ahead of the finals. 

"Any team that has qualified for CHAN is good and didn't get there by chance. We are preparing for the draw with the belief that every team is strong, and we will have to fight to bring honor back home," he said.

Morocco has had ample opportunity to scout players, thanks to the strong performances of local clubs Simba SC and Young Africans in recent CAF interclub competitions. 

He has also assessed talent during the Mapinduzi Cup, where Zanzibar reached the final against Burkina Faso, and Tanzania exited in the group stage.

Taifa Stars' technical bench advisor, Jamhuri Kihwelo 'Julio,' echoed the coach’s sentiments, expressing confidence in the team’s chances. 

“Tanzania is ready to face any opponent. We have talented players from our current strong league and the experience of past participation. 

“With the added benefit of playing at home, I am confident we will achieve positive results. We simply need the full support of the Tanzanian people," Julio said.

Tanzania is one of the teams set to compete for a substantial prize, with CAF recently increasing the total prize money for CHAN 2024 by 32%, bringing it to USD 10.4 million.

This edition of CHAN is shaping up to be a landmark event, and Taifa Stars are determined to seize the opportunity to make history on home soil.