The stakes will be sky-high on Wednesday night at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium as Mauritania clash with hosts Tanzania in a pivotal Group B encounter at the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Mauritania are still in search of their first win following a goalless draw against Madagascar, while Tanzania ride into the match on a wave of confidence after a solid 2-0 opening victory over Burkina Faso.

With group qualification hanging in the balance, neither side can afford a misstep.

Mauritania Coach: “We’re Prepared Mentally and Physically”

Mauritania coach Artiz Lopez Garai expressed full confidence in his squad’s readiness, emphasizing their psychological and physical preparation for the crunch encounter.

“Our focus has been on conditioning — physically and mentally. The mental aspect helps us a lot,” said Garai in his pre-match press conference.

“Tanzania are playing at home and that changes things. But we’re learning and adapting after each game.”

Garai, the Spanish tactician who took charge of the locally-based “Mourabitounes,” believes his side have what it takes to compete.

“Our players have reached a level where they can compete fairly with Tanzania without fear. We respect our opponents but we’re here to fight.”

With no injuries in the squad, Mauritania will field a full-strength team.

Garai sees the CHAN as a golden opportunity for his players, who rarely feature in major continental competitions, to gain vital experience and showcase their abilities.

Al Hassan Diop: “We’re Ready to Give Everything”

Midfielder Al Hassan Diop echoed his coach’s optimism, speaking of a vibrant atmosphere within the Mauritanian camp.

“The team spirit is excellent. Our goal is qualification, and we’re fully focused on getting the three points against Tanzania,” Diop said.

“The coach has given us clear instructions, and we’ll give everything on the pitch.”

Mauritania have only qualified for CHAN twice in their history and are still chasing their first-ever win at the tournament.

This fixture may well be their best chance to rewrite history.

Tanzania Coach: “The Spirit is High — We Want to Go Far”

On the other side, Tanzanian coach Hemed Suleiman is brimming with belief following his team’s composed performance in the opener. The Taifa Stars are targeting back-to-back wins that could secure early qualification.

“There’s great morale within the team. Our focus, both mentally and physically, is solid, and we want to maintain this momentum,” said Suleiman.

However, he acknowledged that improvements are needed in the attacking third.

“We didn’t create many chances in our first match, and that’s something we’re working on. African football is tough — you don’t score four or five goals easily. But we want to increase our attacking threat.”

Respect for Mauritania, But No Fear

Coach Suleiman showed clear respect for his opponents.

“We know Mauritania are a well-organised and disciplined side. Any team that makes it to this level deserves respect. We’ve studied their game, and it won’t be an easy match.”

Goalkeeper Aishi Manula shared his coach’s caution, saying: “The first match is behind us. The next one is even tougher because everyone now has expectations. We’ve prepared well, and a win here would give us clarity on how far we can go.”

Manula added that it was “crucial” to win the opening match on home soil and believes the team can build on that foundation.

Fans Asked to Bring the Noise

Suleiman also sent a heartfelt appeal to Tanzanian fans to recreate the electrifying atmosphere seen in the opener.

“The fans understood exactly what we needed last time, and we want to see that again. Let’s keep pushing — we want to give them joy and something to be proud of.”

No Margin for Error in Group B

With Madagascar also in the mix, Group B remains finely poised. Mauritania cannot afford another slip if they are to advance, while Tanzania could become the first team in the group to reach six points — a tally that would all but seal their place in the quarter-finals.

As the sun sets over Dar es Salaam, one team will rise with momentum, and the other may find their CHAN journey hanging by a thread.