Tanzania’s Tembo Warriors finished runners-up at the East and Central Africa Amputee Football Championship (CECAAF) after a hard-fought 1-0 defeat to Kenya in the final held in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Despite their strong performance throughout the tournament, the national amputee football team narrowly missed out on the top prize, leaving the players and officials with mixed emotions.
The Second Vice President of the Tanzania Amputee Football Federation (TAFF), Rahel Pallangyo, said questionable officiating marred the final, denying the Warriors a fair chance at the trophy.
“The referees made poor decisions that spoiled the game and affected our chances of winning. However, we thank God for helping us reach the final and secure second place. We are determined to regroup and come back stronger,” said Pallangyo.
She noted that the team’s ambition had been to clinch the championship and bring the trophy home, but that dream was cut short.
The CECAAF tournament brought together amputee football teams from across East and Central Africa to determine qualifiers for the continental stage.
Tanzania’s second-place finish means the Tembo Warriors have booked their spot to represent the region at the next level.