As the Africa Cup of Nations kicks into gear, Tanzania’s head coach Miguel Gamondi has struck a tone of defiant optimism ahead of his side’s daunting Group C opener against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday night in Fez.
On paper, the contest appears heavily one-sided. Nigeria, three-time African champions and perennial contenders, will face a Tanzanian side still in search of its first-ever AFCON victory after nine winless tournament matches across three previous appearances.
But Gamondi, speaking at his pre-match press conference, insisted that history will not dictate the outcome in Morocco.
“It’s our dream, and nobody can stop us from believing and dreaming,” the Argentine-born coach asserted. “If you don’t have a dream, it doesn’t make sense to sleep too much. I respect Nigeria a lot, but in football anything is possible. We are here to make a good performance.”
He acknowledged Nigeria’s clear superiority but refused to concede the result in advance. “I’m very realistic about the possibilities. Maybe Nigeria have 99 percent, but you never know. I am confident we can do something,” Gamondi said.
The coach went further, suggesting that an upset victory would carry profound significance for his team. “If we do what we need to do and are able to win, beating Nigeria would feel like winning the AFCON for us, especially at the start of the tournament.”
Tanzania’s AFCON journey has been one of prolonged struggle. Their tournament debut came in 1980—hosted by Nigeria—where they lost all three group matches, including a 3–1 defeat to the Super Eagles. After a 39-year absence, they returned in 2019 under former Nigerian winger Emmanuel Amuneke, but again exited without a win.
At the most recent edition in 2023, however, the Taifa Stars showed signs of resilience, earning hard-fought draws against Zambia and DR Congo after an opening loss to Morocco. While not enough to advance, those results hinted at a team growing in tactical maturity and competitive spirit.
Following Tuesday’s opener, Tanzania will face Uganda on Friday before concluding their group stage campaign against Tunisia next Tuesday. With only the top two teams guaranteed progression, every point will be crucial for Gamondi’s squad.
Nigeria will enter the match as overwhelming favorites, backed by superior talent, pedigree, and expectations. Yet as AFCON history has repeatedly shown—from Cape Verde’s rise to Comoros’ giant-killing—the tournament retains a unique capacity for surprises.
For Gamondi and his players, Tuesday’s match is not merely about defying odds, but about embracing possibility. As he put it plainly: belief is their primary weapon.
Kick-off at the Complexe Sportif de Fès is set for Tuesday evening, where history and hope will meet on the African stage once more.