Tanzania humiliated at home by DR Congo

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania

Tanzania's National soccer team, Taifa Stars on Thursday, November 11, saw their dreams of reaching the World Cup 2022 finals in Qatar crumble after they lost 3-0 to DR Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Former Chelsea prodigy Gael Kakuta set the proceedings underway in the sixth minute with a thunderous shot that beat Stars’ custodian Aishi Manula at the near post.

At the restart, tactician Kim Polsen made changes taking off Novatus Dismas bringing on Mzamiru Yassin in the process breathing in some life in link-up play from the mid-field.

However, in the 66th minute when Nathan Fasika put the game beyond reach for Taifa Stars who had missed an array of opportunities in the first half.

Victory was then sealed in the dying embers of the game after Ben Malango headed home from close range after the defense failed to deal with an aerial ball.

The defeat means stars have a very slim hope of qualifying for the playoff.

Benin’s Les Squirrels moved top of their group with a 2-0 victory over Madagascar in Cotonou. The maximum haul sees them scale to 10 points, two ahead of DR Congo who earlier beat Tanzania 3-0 in Dar es Salaam.

The two sides will face off in the final match day of the group on Sunday with Benin just needing a point to progress.

Against Madagascar, Jodel Dossou starred with a goal and an assist as the Beninese side powered top of the group. He gave his side the lead two minutes from half time.

Benin buried the game in the 79th minute through Steve Mounie. Off a devastating counter attack, Dossou picked the ball on the right before squaring back to Mounie who did the simple task of side-footing the ball home.

Meanwhile, in Kampala, the Uganda Cranes were held by Harambe stars to a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s Kitende Stadium.

The result means Kenya has officially bowed out of the contest having collected only 3 points with no win.