TANZANIA will begin their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a crucial match against Ethiopia at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium this evening.

The two teams, meeting for the first time since November 2015, have been drawn into Group H alongside Guinea, the 1976 AFCON runners-up, and DR Congo, who have won the tournament twice. 

Taifa Stars aim to qualify for the prestigious tournament for the fourth time in their history, having previously participated in 1980, 2019, and 2023.

Hemed ‘Morocco’ Suleiman’s side heads into their opening match with confidence after a solid performance in their World Cup qualifier on June 11, where they defeated the 2012 African champions, Zambia, thanks to a fifth-minute goal from Waziri Junior.

Tanzania has shown decent form in recent fixtures, securing two wins and three draws from their last six matches, scoring five goals, and keeping four clean sheets. 

Coach Morocco is expected to make some adjustments to the lineup from the team's last match in June. Young Africans defender Dickson Job and Turkey-based Novatus Dismas are anticipated to return to the starting eleven.

Job is expected to join Ibrahim Hamad in central defense, with Mohamed Husseini and Lusajo Mwaikenda completing the back four, while Ali Salim will be in goal. 

Himid Mao will captain the side from central midfield, with Waziri Junior leading the attack, supported by wingers Clement Mzize and Edwin Balua.

Ethiopia, meanwhile, struggled in their World Cup qualifiers, managing only a 1-1 draw against Djibouti at the Stade El Abdi on June 9. 

Gabriel Dadzie scored in the 29th minute to give Djibouti the lead, but Ethiopia quickly responded with an equalizer from Menyelu Wondimu two minutes later. 

Despite a solid defensive effort in the second half, Ethiopia could not secure the win.

Ethiopia has yet to secure a victory in their four World Cup qualifying matches, recording three draws and one loss, leaving them with three points from a possible 12 and sitting fifth in Group A. 

Head coach Gebremedhin Haile will encourage his team to take positives from their draw against Djibouti as they start their quest to return to AFCON, having missed out in 2023 following a disappointing qualifying campaign.

The Walia Ibex managed just one win in their six matches in Group D of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, suffering four defeats and one draw, finishing at the bottom of their group with four points. 

Ethiopia enters today's match without a win in their last 11 competitive games, with six losses and five draws since a 1-0 victory over Rwanda in the Africa Nations Championship qualifiers in September 2022.

Both teams will be eager to secure a positive result to boost their chances in the AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign.