Stars scrape through

Visiting Chad national soccer team shocked their hosts Taifa Stars by a lone goal in a return leg match of the 2014 World Cup pre-group stage qualifiers playoff at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

After a barren first half it was Chad’s striker Ahmat Mahamat Labo who beat Stars goalkeeper Juma Kaseja barely two minutes after resumption.

Stars strikers tried hard to force an equaliser but it was in vain as Chad defenders stood firm to safeguard their lead.

Stars coach Jan Poulsen exhausted his substitute list with Nizar Khalfan, Henry Joseph and Thomas Ulimwengu going out to pave the way for Nurdin Bakari, Abdi Kassim and Mohamed Rajab, respectively.

Striker Khalfan Ngasa combined well with Thomas Ulimwengu but the later shot over the cross bar after 57 minutes.

Fans were yelling for an equalizer but the near misses continued while Chad made full use of counter attacks.

It was in close shave circumstances that Stars survived the match as Chad strikers tormented to send shivers into the home side’s camp.

Late substitute Mohamed Rajab or popularly known as Mohamed Rajab (Athumani Machupa) threw over board a glorious opportunity to draw level after being put through by Mbwana Samatta.

However, Stars qualified to join the proper group stage with three other teams of Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco and Gambia in the run for Rio de Janeiro showdown.

The Tanzania tem won by 2-1 goals in the first leg tie played in N’djamena last Friday to benefit from the away goals rule.

Otherwise Chad played an enterprising football and were lethal on counter attacks.

Stars have les than seven months to prepare for the qualifier series that kicks off with an away match against Cote d’Ivoire in June 2012.

Stars coach Poulsen had predicted a tough duel ahead soon after the team arrived from N’djamena last Sunday. The coach will be in charge for the team ahead of the qualifiers and his continuity banks on renewing his contract.

Line-ups:

 Taifa Stars:

Juma Kaseja, Shomari Kapombe, Idrissa Rajab, Juma Nyosso, Aggrey Morris,

Shabani Nditi, Thomas Ulimwengu/ /Mohamed Rajab, Henry Joseph/Abdi Kassim, Mbwana Samata, Nizar Khalfan/Nurdin Bakari and Mrisho Ngassa.

Chad:

Brice Mabaya, Sylvain Doubam, Massama Asselmo, Armand Djerabe, Yaya Karim, Herman Doumnan,

Ferdinand Gassina, Ahmat Mahamat Labo, Ezechiel Ndouassel, Hassan Hissen Hassan and Dany Karl Marx.