Tanzania coach Hamad Suleiman praised his side’s tactical discipline and focus after they opened their African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 campaign with a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in Dar es Salaam.
The Taifa Stars kicked off their Group B journey on home soil with a professional display at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday, delighting their passionate home fans and laying a solid foundation for their tournament ambitions.
“It wasn’t easy – but we knew our weaknesses”
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Suleiman revealed the victory was the result of targeted improvements made in training, particularly in the attacking third – an area he openly admitted had been a concern.
“It wasn't easy. We knew that beforehand,” the Tanzanian coach said. “Even when we started the training camp, we knew that our team wasn't effective at scoring goals. We had a very strong defense, but offensively we had a lot to improve.”
The Taifa Stars worked extensively on attacking movements and chance creation during their preparations, and Suleiman believes the effort paid off on the pitch.
“We focused a lot on the offensive side,” he continued.
“During training sessions, we emphasised attacking drills with the aim of creating and converting more chances.”
Pleased but not satisfied
Despite the win, Suleiman is not getting carried away. He commended his players for applying his tactical instructions but insists the team must keep improving if they are to challenge for the title on home soil.
“Thanks to the players, they have adapted well to what we worked on in training,” he said. “There are still some problems in how we finish our chances, so we will continue to work.”
He welcomed the positive start to the tournament, adding: “We started well — that was our goal. Now we aim to improve with every match.”
Burkina Faso left frustrated
For Burkina Faso coach Issa Balbouni, the opening fixture was one to forget. The Stallions struggled to impose themselves from the outset and fell behind in the first half after conceding a penalty — a moment Balbouni said disrupted their game plan.
“It was difficult for us to enter the match,” the Burkinabe coach said. “The penalty awarded to Tanzania destabilised us. We tried to come back into the game, but it was hard.”
Balbouni was quick to credit Tanzania’s dominance in midfield and their superior attacking play.
“Tanzania won the midfield battle and were more effective in attack than our team,” he admitted.
Fatigue blamed for sluggish start
In assessing his team’s underwhelming display, Balbouni pointed to travel fatigue as a key factor.
“We had a long journey to get to Tanzania,” he said. “Physically, we arrived tired, just two days before the tournament started.”
Despite the poor result, Balbouni dismissed the notion that the large Tanzanian crowd had an impact on his players.
“The fans do not bother us — we are used to that. We’ve been playing outside our country for five years,” he noted, alluding to Burkina Faso's prolonged exile from home grounds due to stadium issues.
“We will make amends”
Balbouni vowed his team would learn from their mistakes and bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
“We will correct the errors we made,” he said. “We will do our best to please our fans. We will come back better for the rest of the competition.”
With two more matches to play in the group stage, Burkina Faso still have a chance to reach the knockout stages — but improvement is essential.
Group B standings take shape
The win lifts Tanzania to the top of Group B with three points — a perfect start to their campaign. Burkina Faso, meanwhile, sit bottom and must respond quickly to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
The result highlighted the strength of the Tanzanian squad, especially their midfield cohesion and defensive stability. Burkina Faso, in contrast, lacked rhythm and struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Both sides eye next steps
The post-match reactions from both coaches reveal a tournament that will demand consistency and tactical sharpness from every team. Tanzania now head into their next match with renewed confidence and a clear sense of identity, while Burkina Faso face the immediate challenge of regrouping under pressure.
Suleiman, however, remains focused on one match at a time. “We will try to be better in every match,” he stressed.
Balbouni echoed the sentiment of continued effort, stating: “The tournament is not over. We will fight.”
As CHAN 2024 gathers momentum, Group B is already shaping up to be one of the most competitive — and Tanzania have thrown down the gauntlet.
