Amunike makes history, qualifies Tanzania for their first AFCON finals since 1980

Emmanuel Amunike has broken a 39-year-old jinx to qualify Tanzania for their first ever AFCON finals after win against Uganda at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium on Sunday.

It looked very impossible for Emmanuel Amunike and Taifa Stars of Tanzania considering their last AFCON qualifying game was against Uganda who were yet to concede a goal in the tournament while Lesotho whom they were on the same point needed to win against last placed Cape Verde.

The Taifa’s Stars destiny wasn’t only in their hands as a 20-0 win against Uganda would mean nothing should Lesotho beat Cape Verde even by a lone goal because of the head to head rule which CAF would have used incase of a tie points.

The Head-to-head points between both countries stood at Lesotho 4, Tanzania 1. Lesotho played a 1-1 draw against Tanzania at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam then won 1-0 at the Setsoto Stadium, Maseru.

All that didn’t mattered in the end as goals from Simon Msuwa, Erasto Nyoni from 12-yard and Aggrey Morris in the 21, 51 and 57 minutes helped Tanzania to beat Uganda 3-0 plus a goalless draw in the game between Cape Verde and Lesotho powered Emmanuel and Tanzania through to the finals in Egypt.

Tanzania with 8 points qualified alongside Uganda with 13 points from group L.