Tanzania Men’s senior team wrapped up their Benghazi Cup outing with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the hosts Libya.
The Taifa Stars who are now coached by former Chipolopolo head coach Honour Janza on an interim basis headed into the match with a 1-nil victory over Uganda in their opening match of the three-nation tournament played on FIFA-sanctioned dates.
Libya drew first blood through Mohammed Salih Ali in the 21st minute from the spot kick while Tanzania clawed back into the match at the 40th-minute mark through Said Khamis before the hosts restored their lead through Salih Ali again who scored in the 49th minute to grab his brace and ensure Libya emerged as champions of the invitational tournament.
The Mediterranean Knights of Libya finished the tournament with 4 points from two matches having drawn 0-0 against Uganda in their opening match while on the hand, the Taifa Stars finished in the second position with 3 points.
The Ugandan Cranes who are coached by another former Chipolopolo coach Milutin Sredojević, were the worst performers in the competition as they returned home with only a point after losing 1-0 to Tanzania and recording a scoreless draw with Libya.
Meanwhile, coach Janza said it was discouraging to lose in the final of the Benghazi Cup against the hosts as he aimed to win the invitational tournament.
“It is somehow discouraging when you lose in the final game but it was good to pick a win away, especially that we were away, coming here,” he said.
“The best is that we were able to win one game, we gave out one game but with a fight. We hoped for either a draw or an outright win but it couldn’t come our way.”
“We gave in one game with a fight. 2-1 shows some character in the team and we can build from there. I saw good positives, trying to win the game.”
The Namungo Football Club coach who will be hoping for a positive recommendation has now been in charge of three matches for the Taifa Stars; recording 2 losses and 1 win.
Janza, who was the last coach to guide Zambia to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, was appointed interim head coach on 29th August 2022. He took over from Kim Poulsen and was in charge of the second leg match of the 2023 African Nations Championship (CHAN) Qualifiers against Uganda saw the the Taifa Stars lose 3-0 to crash out of the race with a 4-0 on aggregate defeat having lost 1-0 in the first leg.
With Taifa Stars coaching job still vacant, it remains to be seen if Janza will get a permanent coaching role anytime soon.
