Tanzania name Amuneke as new coach

Former Nigerian international Emmanuel Amuneke has been named the new head coach of the Taifa Stars of Tanzania.

The 47-year-old signed a two-year deal to take over from Salum Mayanga who was sacked for poor results.

Amuneke’s first priority will be to get the Taifa Stars’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign back on track after a faulty start.

The 1994 African Footballer of the Year began his coaching career in 2008 when he worked as assistant coach at Saudi Premier League side Al-Hazm FC, before he quit to become a scout for Manchester United.

ALSO READ:  Coca-Cola Customer Appreciation Golf tournament: Ogunbameru, Oyome qualify for Mauritius Open

The 1994 AFCON winner had his baptism of fire as a coach when he coached former team Julius Berger FC in December 2008, after completing a two-year coaching course in Europe.

Amuneke, Atlanta ’96 Olympics gold medallist, in November 2009 got his second job in Nigeria as he coached Ocean Boys FC.

After handling Nigeria’s national U17 and later U20 teams, he moved to Sudan in November 2017 to coach Al Khartoum SC.

The high point of his coaching career came in 2015 when he coached the Golden Eaglets to win the FIFA U17 World Cup, two years after he had assisted Manu Garba to win the global cadet trophy in UAE.

ALSO READ:  Chinese FA launch investigation into Demba Ba racism claims

Amuneke’s first match in charge of Tanzania is about a month away as Tanzania face Uganda in an AFCON qualifier on September 7.

The Taifa Stars are third in group L having being held to a 1-1 home draw by Lesotho at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam.