DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — As the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium dey gearing up to host DEM big match, na more than just football go dey happen. Madagascar and Central African Republic (CAR) go enter pitch for their CHAN 2024 journey wey dey hang for balance. But for CAR, them dey carry their Independence Day matter on top this match. Coach Sébastien Ngato don make am clear: this day no be just another fixture, na national celebration.
Madagascar dey waka with their own ambition, after dem suffer loss last time against Tanzania. Their head coach, Romuald Rakotondrabe no dey ginger no be small, as he believe say his boys don find their fighting spirit again. “We no fit collect good result against Tanzania, but we don manage to restore our morale. Na this match we go show what we fit do,” he talk (I mean, we all know say losing dey sweet like bitter leaf soup).
Di tension dey rise as both teams dey occupy fourth and fifth position for di group, but dem no wan hear any story. “We go give everything we get to get better result. E no go easy, especially since we dey on top same table level. Winning na the only option to continue for di competition,” rakotondrabe yarn.
Madagascar don only score one goal for two matches, and that na bad news wey no fit be joke. “We dey create chances but no dey convert am. Our attacking efficiency don drop like light after power go.” Coach dey work on adjustments, and captain Dax wey dey return from suspension go help boost morale. “I go dey on top pitch, raising my teammates’ morale. Na wetin I go do as captain,” he gree.
Ngato, for di other hand, dey see this match like important national duty as dem dey celebrate Independence Day. “We no fit afford to make mistake. Dis match wey dey come na our final!” Dis match no be for play, na for respect for dem country. “We go give everything to win for 13 August,” Ngato yan.
Meanwhile, for Zanzibar, Nigeria Head Coach, Éric Chelle, don already look forward to final match after dem knack 4-0 against Sudan. “We don lose all ambition. Na the worst game wey I don oversee,” he dey vex. Na so dem don become di first team wey don fall off from di tournament.
“If we maintain dis level of play against Congo, e go dey worse. We need to clear our minds,” Chelle don harass dem players make dem prepare well. Na wetin dem suppose do, since some of their key players don don japa abroad. “We dey face our challenges, and we need to focus!”
Sudan don rise to the top of Group D, and their coach, Kwesi Appiah, dey chop gingers as him express surprise with di scoreline against Nigeria. “E shock me, but my players nail am,” he gree. Sudani players dey perform better for di second half, and Appiah dey happy say dem strategy work well.
As di tournament dey unfold, expect more twists and turns as teams dey fight giddily for their place in di next round.
