Winless Tanzania sack coach Amrouche after one AFCON game

Tanzania has sacked head coach Adel Amrouche, barely 48 hours after their national team, Taifa Stars, suffered a 3-0 defeat by Morocco in their opening Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals match.

Amrouche stands as the third human being in history to lead Tanzania to the AFCON finals. Tanzania had previously played in two continental showpieces – the 1980 and 2019 editions.

In a statement, the Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF) has left the team in the hands of Hemed Morocco who will lead the team in an acting capacity together with Juma Mgunda.

Winless Tanzania sack coach Amrouche after one AFCON game — Adel Amrouche is a former Harambee Stars coach. He is the third man in history to lead Tanzania to the AFCON finals. [Photo/The Standard].

“The Executive Committee of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has suspended Coach Adel Amrouche. Following this decision, Hemed Morocco has been appointed as the Acting Coach, with assistance from Juma Mgunda,” TFF said in a statement.

According to Tanzania’s football governing body TFF, the firing of the Algerian is a result of the eight-match ban that he was slapped with for his comments before their opening match against Morocco.

The former Harambee Stars coach claimed that the 2022 World Cup semifinalists and Africa’s highest-ranking football nation have the power to influence matches by manipulating referees.

“The CAF Disciplinary Committee issued the punishment yesterday in response to complaints filed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) against Coach Amrouche. RMFF accused the coach of making statements alleging that Morocco wields influence within CAF in manipulating matches and referees,” TFF added.

Taarifa kutoka Shirikisho la Mpira wa Miguu Tanzania (TFF)@tplboard @azamtvtz @CAF_Online @taifastars_ pic.twitter.com/CawNPsW0Xr
— TFF TANZANIA (@Tanfootball) January 19, 2024

Tanzania next face Zambia on Sunday, January 21 before winding up their group stage campaign against DR Congo on Wednesday, January 24.

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Morocco, ranked first in Africa and 13th globally by FIFA, wielded their prowess against Tanzania, scoring in both halves and taking charge of Group F as matchday one concluded.