TANZANIA has secured the first spot in the knockout stages of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Madagascar.

The decisive match, held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, saw striker Clement Mzize score both goals for Tanzania in the first half. Despite a goal from Madagascar in the 34th minute, Mzize's two goals were enough to seal the win and guarantee Tanzania's progression in the tournament.

Structure and Initial Approach

Head coach Hemed Suleiman (pictured) made one change from the side that beat Mauritania, with Abdulrazack Hamza replacing Yusuph Kagoma to anchor the midfield in a 4-3-3 formation.

Hamza sat deepest in midfield, operating behind Mudahir Yahya and Feisal Salum, with the latter taking on the most advanced role as the creative hub.

Tanzania’s midfield spacing was designed to stretch the pitch, creating 1v1 scenarios for their wingers against Malagasy fullbacks.

The wide players often drove the ball to the touchline before cutting it back into the box, aiming for advancing midfielders arriving late.

Goals and Attacking Patterns

The first goal came directly from this wing-oriented approach. Iddi Selemani 'Nado' dribbled to the touchline on the left and pulled the ball back to Yahya at the edge of the box.

Yahya’s strike struck the post, and Mzize reacted quickest to fire in the rebound.

Tanzania’s second goal showcased a well-rehearsed set-piece routine. The Taifa Stars crowded the penalty area, drawing defenders toward the near post.

From a corner, Feisal delivered a low ball into that space, and Mzize pounced to double the lead with a sharp finish.

Midfield Shift and Vulnerabilities

Hamza’s injury shortly after the second goal forced Suleiman into an early tactical reshuffle. Shekhan Hamisi replaced him, with the system shifting from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1.

Yahya and Feisal dropped into a double pivot, while Hamisi operated as the advanced midfielder.

This adjustment, however, created defensive issues. Neither Yahya nor Feisal is a natural holding midfielder, which left gaps in front of the back four.

Madagascar exploited these spaces, finding players between the lines with ease. The absence of midfield cover in the cutback zone led directly to their goal: a combination play in midfield ended with the ball being worked to the right wing, where a cutback found Mika Razafimahatana unmarked to finish first time.

Defensive Adjustments

To shore up the midfield, left-back Mohamed Hussein tucked inside when out of possession, forming a temporary three-man midfield.

The wingers also narrowed their positions, marking inside to block central passing lanes.

In the build-up phase, the ball-side fullback often stayed deeper to assist in progression, ensuring Tanzania maintained numerical stability at the back.

If the fullback advanced, one of the holding midfielders would drop into the vacated defensive space to maintain structure.

Mzize’s Positional Fluidity

A key feature of Tanzania’s attack was the positional rotation of Clement Mzize. His movement across the central striker role, wide channels, and even deeper attacking midfield zones made him difficult to mark.

This constant rotation disrupted Madagascar’s defensive assignments and created openings for runners from midfield and the opposite wing.

This was a performance of two halves for Tanzania dominant and clinical in the opening period, then forced into defensive problem-solving after Hamza’s injury.

While Madagascar found some success exploiting the midfield gaps, Tanzania’s early precision in attack and structural adjustments in defence ensured they held on for a famous win.

With qualification secured, the Taifa Stars will look to refine their midfield balance ahead of the knockout stages, while continuing to utilise their wing play and set-piece effectiveness as key offensive weapons.