Tanzania maintained their unbeaten run and kept a second consecutive clean sheet at CHAN 2024 with a dramatic 1-0 win over Mauritania on Wednesday night. Shomari Kapombe struck deep into stoppage time to hand the Taifa Stars their second victory in as many matches, putting them in full control of Group B and edging them closer to a potential quarterfinal spot, although there is still one round of group fixtures to play.
With the result, Tanzania cements its place at the top of Group B with six points from two matches; they sit three points ahead of the second-placed team, with one game remaining. Their dream of a maiden appearance in the CHAN knockout phase is now within touching distance.
The match in Nouakchott started with urgency from both sides. Mauritania pressed early, looking to capitalize on their home advantage and fast wing play. However, it was Tanzania who carved out the first major opportunity of the game in the 12th minute, forcing goalkeeper Abderrahmane Sarr into a sharp save following a powerful low shot.
Both teams had promising spells in the first half. Tanzania almost broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when a goal-bound effort was cleared off the line in dramatic fashion. A defensive lapse nearly cost the Taifa Stars moments earlier, but Mauritania’s forwards could not capitalize on a loose ball in the box.
The teams went into halftime locked at 0-0 after an evenly contested 45 minutes, with chances at both ends but no breakthrough.
Coach Hemed Morocco’s halftime adjustments gave Tanzania renewed control in the second half. A double substitution saw midfielders Nassor Hamoud and Ahmed Bakari Pipino come on to inject fresh energy. The Taifa Stars settled into a rhythm and began dictating tempo, although chances remained few and far between.
Mauritania, on the other hand, struggled to maintain attacking cohesion. Despite the influence of striker El Mami, their build-up play lacked the final pass; the urgency to refresh the midfield came too late. The hosts failed to register a meaningful shot on target in the second half.
As the minutes ticked away, the match appeared destined for a goalless draw. The second half was largely cagey, with both sides slowed by fatigue, and physical battles dominating midfield exchanges. A yellow card for Tanzania’s Young Africans forward Clement Mzize in the 81st minute added tension to the closing stages, especially after vehement protests from the Mauritanians who believed the challenge warranted a red.
But just when it seemed both sides would settle for a point, Kapombe emerged as the match-winner. In the 92nd minute, the experienced defender produced a moment of brilliance, unleashing a mid-range shot that nicked the post before nestling into the back of the net; the goal sent the Tanzanian bench into wild celebrations.
It was a finish worthy of the occasion, a captain’s contribution at a crucial moment, ensuring Tanzania remain unbeaten, unbreached, and in control of their CHAN 2024 destiny. They face Madagascar in their final Group B fixture on August 9, while Mauritania, who must win to stay alive, will take on the Central African Republic on the same day.
