Tanzania started their 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign with a strong 2-0 win over Burkina Faso, and midfielder Faisal Salum says the team’s goal is to win every match in the tournament.
Backed by thousands of passionate fans at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Tanzania took the lead in the first half through a calmly taken penalty by Abdul Sopu. Defender Mohamed Hussein sealed the victory in the second half with a powerful header.
Speaking after the match, Salum who was named TotalEnergies Man of the Match expressed how much the win meant to the team and the country.
“This victory is the perfect start and makes all Tanzanians proud and happy,” Salum told CAFOnline.com.
“Our target is to win every match, especially since we’re playing at home. We want to stay focused and consistent.”
Salum emphasized that while the team made a strong start, they must keep improving.
“This is just the beginning. We showed what we can do, but every match is a new challenge. We have to stay sharp.”
On his individual performance, Salum remained humble:
“It’s always an honor to be named Man of the Match, but what really matters is that we won as a team.”
He also praised the fans for their support:
“We felt the energy of the fans. They gave us motivation, and we want to make them proud every time we play.”
Tanzania will face Mauritania next, who drew 0-0 with Madagascar in their opening game. The match is set for Wednesday, and a win could bring Tanzania closer to qualifying for the knockout stages.
