2019 AFCON: Taifa Stars drum support for Amuneke
Taifa Stars of Tanzania have been tipped to come out smoking when they face Cranes of Uganda in the 2019 African Cup of Nations tie in Kampala on September 7
Fans of the side reportedly believe that there will be better results following the engagement of former Nigerian international and FC Barcelona ace Emmanuel Amuneke as coach of the Taifa Stars on Monday.
The Taifa Stars are sitting third in their group after playing out a 1-1 draw against Lesotho in Dae es Salam and the Football Federation is said to be eager to push the team to the top of the ladder.
Tanzania’s participation in the African Cup of Nations has been neither here nor there as they have either withdrawn or failed to qualify. The side crashed out in the first round of the 1980 edition which was won by Nigeria. Taifa Stars biggest win according to available records is a 2-time 7-0 defeat of Somalia in 1985 and 2012 while their biggest defeat was a 9-0 demolition by Kenya 62 years ago.
Amuneke recently back from FIFA assignment in Russia where he teamed up with the technical study group put pen to paper on Monday, a deal which has been re-twitted over and over by many friends, former teammates and associates.
Amunuke prior to heading to Russia for the FIFA assignment had parted ways with Sudanese club side Al Khartoum SC.
Although the Nigerian saved the side from relegation in his less than a year sojourn in Sudan, disagreements over finances led to the parting of ways. He became coach of Al Khartoum SC in November 2017, and left in March 2018.
The former Julius Berger and Ocean Boys sweat merchant also coached the National under 17 side, leading the team to victory at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, beating fellow Africans Mali 2-1 at the Estadio Sausalito Stadium in the final. The 47-year-old takes over from Salum Mayanga who was sent packing over poor results.
Amuneke will begin his campaign in an away tie when Tanzania face Uganda in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier September 7 in Kampala