IN the wake of Tanzania's 2-0 defeat to Morocco in their 2026 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday night, Taifa Stars coach Hemed ‘Morocco’ Suleiman addressed the media, offering a measured assessment of his team's performance.

Despite the loss, Suleiman expressed a degree of satisfaction with his players' efforts, particularly in the first half. 

"First of all, Alhamdulillah, the game is finished. I think it was a good game," he said. "We knew that Morocco were coming to press us in 20-25 minutes. They wanted to get the first goal to manage the game. But thank you, boys. We managed the pressure."

Suleiman acknowledged the tactical approach taken, emphasizing the need for a defensive strategy against a formidable Moroccan side. 

"We were playing low block. We tried to close all the gaps they wanted to expose. We did well in the first half, it was better. In the second half, we knew they were coming to pressure us again. We tried to manage. They tried to play wide. Still, we closed spaces all the time."

However, he conceded that the difference ultimately lay in the individual quality of the Moroccan players. 

"But I think it was the quality of the players that was the difference," Suleiman stated. "I believe that most tough games are decided on set pieces. Congratulations to Morocco. The quality of the players decided the match. It was tough."

The coach highlighted the intensity of the encounter and the strategic necessity of a compact defensive setup. 

"I think it was tough. Morocco tried to push us because they wanted to score the first goal just to manage the game. You have to play low block when you're playing a team like Morocco. 

“But, like I said before, when you're playing this team, you need to concentrate 100% for 90 minutes. So, due to lack of concentration in the second half, they got the goals. So, congratulations to them."

With 15 points from five matches, the Atlas Lions are firmly in command of Group E and edging closer to World Cup qualification while Tanzania remain third level on points with second placed Niger who boasts a superior goal difference. 

The top finisher in the group will qualify for World Cup 2026 finals.