Taifa Stars coach, Adel Amrouche is looking to field a strong side in Ivory Coast and has made it clear that even though it took hard work to qualify, performing well in the tournament requires good preparations that must start early.

Teams are gearing up to finalise their player rosters, with Africa's football governing body, CAF, recently revealing that each participating team can submit a squad of 27 players for the tournament.

Tusker forward, Joshua Ibrahim has been named in Tanzania's provisional squad for AFCON. Photo: Tusker FC.
Source: Twitter

Amrouche told CECAFA Online:

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"I thank the government of Tanzania, the Tanzania Football Federation and the sponsors for the efforts put in during the qualification campaign. But now we need to start thinking of good preparations with perhaps a camp and some build-ups."

Overcoming injuries that plagued him towards the end of the 2022-23 season, Ibrahim has made the 53-man squad, despite a relatively quiet 2023/24 season in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL).

Ibrahim had previously been called up for the team’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Niger and Morocco but was an unused substitute.

Tanzania is making its third appearance in the 24-nation tournament, with its last participation in 2019, when the competition was held in Egypt. They are in Group F alongside Morocco, Zambia, and DR Congo.

Should Ibrahim make it to the ultimate list, he will be the sole representative from the FKFPL.

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His national team debut dates back to March 2022 when he was fielded in the second half in a 3-1 friendly thrashing of the Central African Republic.

He signed for Tusker in August 2021, a club where he says his fortunes changed.

"After joining Tusker, my life changed - at home, people are seeing their son is well. Now we are talking with my father freely. Without a doubt, I'm happy at Tusker. I was welcomed well and the environment was good. As a footballer, one checks on the environment available," he said per Team Kenya.

Ibrahim was Tusker’s highest scorer in his debut season, with 11 goals and four assists in 29 appearances.

The 34th edition of the AFCON starts on January 13, 2024, and runs to February 11, 2024, with matches to be staged in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.

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Sports Brief previously ranked AFCON 2023's most likely winning nations, including Senegal thanks to a wealth of talent in all parts of the field.

Players including Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy will take centre stage as the Indomitable Lions aim to retain Africa's crown.

Authors

Robert Abong'o

Editor - Africa Team