Tanzanians backed me to win AFCON ticket ―Amuneke

Nigerian-born Taifa Stars coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has said that he received a tremendous support from his compatriots and citizens of Tanzania which aided the country’s qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after nearly 40 years.

Tanzania last Sunday hammered Uganda 3-0 to finish second in the group with eight points behind Uganda who finished with 13 points.

“I am elated,” the ex-Nigeria international and former African Footballer of the Year said via whatsapp call from his base in Dar es Salaam.

The man who coached Nigeria to win the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup added that the nationals of Tanzania stood behind him especially after the slip in matchday 5 where his team was expected to have grabbed the AFCON ticket.

“The people were fully behind me and strongly believed the country will qualify to play in Africa’s biggest soccer show piece this time around,” the Atlanta ’96 Olympic gold medallist said.

The final qualifier at the weekend was potentially a tough one as Uganda had before then, not conceded any goal in the series that began in 2017. But Tanzania against all odds scored, not just once, but thrice.

“Today is an emotional night for me and I’m delighted to have piloted this team to win this important match [against Uganda]. It was an agonising moments before the match knowing full well that we must win to stay in the tournament.

“Football is a uniting factor here. I can see happiness on the faces of everybody while the untiring support from the beginning to the end was a motivational factor for my players who never failed to take their legs off the gas.

“My wish for now is to go back and review the series with my team and to know where we are lacking and also hope we get a good draw when the ceremony holds soon in Cairo, Egypt,” Amuneke, a former FC Barcelona player said.