The Tanzania National Team coach, Adel Amrouche, has been sacked after being banned by CAF ahead of his side’s clash with Zambia, the Tanzania Football Federation (TTF) has confirmed.
The CAF disciplinary committee has handed Amrouche an eight-match ban and a $10,000 fine for accusing Morocco’s Football Federation (FRMF) of controlling African football in a televised interview on Algerian TV a few days before Tanzania’s opening match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
During the interview, Amrouche said: “Currently, the FRMF is a confirmed power in the African football world; in the last match against Morocco, they forced us to play in the evening when we wanted to play in the early afternoon. They manage and determine everything in African football.”
The statement caused controversy, but the Algerian clarified during a pre-match press conference on Tuesday that it was “not intended as disparaging attacks.”
Moroccans were outraged by the accusations, and the FRMF filed a complaint with the CAF, urging for immediate action against what they saw as defamatory claims.
TFF has also confirmed that they have suspended Amrounche.
“As a result of that decision, Hemed Morocco has been appointed as acting coach, and he will be assisted by Juma Mgunda,” read TTF’s statement.
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Tanzania suffered a 3-0 defeat in their AFCON opening match on Wednesday. Their next match will be against Zambia on Sunday in a must-win encounter.