Coach Morocco happy with Taifa Stars spirit

TAIFA Stars Head Coach Hemed Suleiman ‘Morocco’ has praised his players in the way they get prepared for the forthcoming 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to begin on August 2.
The national team is currently in Egypt, undergoing rigorous training sessions aimed at sharpening tactics and building cohesion ahead of their Group B opener against Burkina Faso, a match expected to be a stern test of their readiness.
Speaking to the media after a recent session, Coach Hemed expressed satisfaction with the players’ work ethic, discipline, and response to training.
“I’m very pleased with how the boys have responded,” said Hemed.
“Their focus, attitude, and effort in every session have been excellent. We know the challenge ahead is tough, but the unity and determination we’re building are promising.”
The former Taifa Stars player highlighted the value of the Egypt camp in offering a focused, high-performance environment free from local distractions, ideal for fine-tuning tactical systems and enhancing player chemistry.
He noted that the squad is steadily adapting to his football philosophy and that the team is working hard on both attacking and defensive transitions in anticipation of CHAN’s demanding level of competition.
“Every player understands what is expected of them,” he said. “We’re not just going to participate; we’re going to compete.”
Tanzania will face Burkina Faso in their tournament opener and fans back home remain optimistic that the positive strides taken in Egypt will reflect in the team’s performances on the pitch.
Coach Hemed also called on Tanzanians to rally behind the team, assuring supporters that the squad is determined to make the nation proud.
“We need the support of every Tanzanian. The boys are giving their all, and we believe we can make a strong impact.”

The 2024 African Nations Championship, known as the 2024 CHAN for short and the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship for sponsorship purposes, is scheduled to be the 8th edition of the biennial association football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), featuring national teams consisting of players currently playing in their respective local leagues.
It was initially scheduled to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from 1 to 28 February 2025. However, on 14 January 2025, the event was postponed to August 2025 in the same three countries. This will be the first edition to be hosted by three countries.
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda were named as co-hosts of the 2024 edition on 17 December 2023 as a dress rehearsal of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
On January 14, 2025, the day before the Final Draw took place, CAF announced that the tournament would be postponed to August 2025 to allow more time for preparations and for another qualifying round to take place to decide the final two participants. The preparation of Kenyan venues to host the tournament was considered “miles behind” by the officials.