STARS ALIGNED: TANZANIA 1-1 TUNISIA
By our man in Morocco
TANZANIA’S Taifa Stars produced a performance for the ages in the gleaming heart of Rabat last night, holding African giants Tunisia to a 1-1 draw to secure a historic spot in the AFCON knockout stages.
While the scoreline spoke of a stalemate, the atmosphere inside the newly-rebuilt Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was nothing short of electric, as Morocco’s capital city bore witness to a seismic shift in East African footballing history.
The venue, an architectural masterpiece dripping in 3 billion dirhams of investment, provided a world-class stage for a match of immense tension.
Under the state-of-the-art LED lights of the 69,500-capacity arena—a symbol of Morocco’s bid for global footballing dominance—Tanzania proved they belong among the continent’s elite.
Tunisia took the lead in the 43rd minute through an Ismael Gharbi penalty, awarded after a VAR review at the pitchside monitors of the ultra-modern complex.
But the Taifa Stars, buoyed by a vocal contingent of traveling fans who made the 21,000-capacity Olympic Stadium annex feel like Dar es Salaam, refused to wilt.
The moment of magic came just after the restart. Feisal Salum unleashed a rocket from outside the box that nestled into the corner, sparking wild celebrations on the hybrid natural grass pitch—the first of its kind in Africa.
As the rain lashed down on the palm-leaf-inspired facade of the stadium, Tanzania held firm against a late Tunisian onslaught to secure the point they needed.
For the first time in their history, Tanzania advance to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. They remain in Rabat for a date with destiny against the hosts, Morocco, while Tunisia head to Casablanca.
On a night where the venue was as spectacular as the result, African football found a new home in the luxury of Rabat.
