Tanzania U20 head coach Boniface Mkwasa has extended a heartfelt apology to Tanzanians and football stakeholders following the national team’s second consecutive loss at the ongoing 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Egypt.
The Tanzanian side fell 1-0 to Sierra Leone in their second group match, just days after suffering a similar 1-0 defeat to South Africa.
Both games were closely contested, but missed opportunities in front of goal proved costly for the Taifa Stars.
Speaking after the loss to Sierra Leone at Canal Suez Stadium, Mkwasa said the team had a solid game plan, but execution in the final third of the pitch was lacking. He acknowledged that failure to capitalize on scoring chances ultimately led to their downfall.
“We sincerely apologize to the people of Tanzania and our football stakeholders for the disappointing results,” said Mkwasa.
“We went into the tournament with a clear strategy and strong preparation, but unfortunately we couldn’t turn our chances into goals.”
Mkwasa added that his technical team has already reviewed the matches and identified areas that need urgent improvement.
The squad will undergo focused training sessions in the coming days to correct mistakes and boost their performance ahead of the remaining fixtures.
“The most important thing now is to learn, regroup, and make the necessary adjustments. We still have two more games, and we are determined to fight for better results,” he added.
Tanzania’s hopes of advancing in the competition now depend on their performance in the next two group stage matches.
The young Taifa Stars will face Zambia on May 6, followed by a challenging final group match against hosts Egypt on May 9.
Despite the tough start, Mkwasa remains optimistic, urging fans to continue supporting the team as they work to turn things around in their remaining matches.
