Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi has promised a competitive and fair contest against Nigeria as the Taifa Stars prepare to face the Super Eagles in Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter in Uyo.
Gamondi acknowledged Nigeria’s status and quality within African football but insisted that his players would approach the Matchday Three Group L fixture with confidence and a determination to deliver a positive performance.
Despite Tanzania already securing qualification for the 2027 tournament as one of the co-host nations, the Argentine coach stressed that the remaining qualifying matches remain important for his team’s development.
“We are already qualified, but that does not change anything about our approach. We need to improve, build our game model and continue developing as a team. For us, this will be a very good learning experience,” Gamondi said.
The Tanzania manager, however, admitted that preparations had not been entirely smooth, with travel difficulties and visa complications affecting the availability of some players.
“Honestly, we are not in the best condition, and our travel arrangements have not been ideal. Three or four players have been affected for different reasons, including visa issues,” he explained.
Nevertheless, Gamondi maintained that the challenges would not prevent his team from giving Nigeria a competitive encounter, recalling their previous meeting at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We are ready to give Nigeria an honest contest, just as we did at the last Africa Cup of Nations. We have tremendous respect for them,” he added.
The Taifa Stars coach also acknowledged the quality within Nigeria’s squad but urged his players to believe in their abilities rather than be overwhelmed by the opposition’s reputation.
“In my opinion, Nigeria have some of the highest quality in African football. But we need to trust ourselves and believe in our football.
“At the end of the day, when the referee blows the whistle, it is 11 against 11. We will give our best, compete fairly and with integrity, and try to produce something positive,” Gamondi stated.
Nigeria head into the encounter seeking to revive their Group L campaign after collecting three points from their opening two matches.
The Super Eagles defeated Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo before suffering a disappointing 3-0 away loss to Guinea-Bissau, leaving Eric Chelle’s men under pressure to secure maximum points.
Tanzania, meanwhile, are using the remaining qualifiers to strengthen their team ahead of the 2027 AFCON, which they will co-host with Kenya and Uganda.
The Super Eagles will host the Taifa Stars at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday, November 13, before travelling for the return fixture scheduled for November 17.
