Tanzania, coached by former Harambee Stars head coach Adel Amrouche qualified for the AFCON for the third time in their history with the single point away from home, blemishing Les Fennecs’ 100pc record in qualification.
The result saw them finish in second place in the group, thus earning the single left qualification slot, edging out Uganda, who beat Niger 2-0 in Marrakech.
Heading into the final match of the group, Tanzania were on seven points and needed just a point to qualify, while third placed Uganda were on four, and needed a win coupled by a loss to Tanzania for them to sneak through.
But, Tanzania, missing influential skipper Mbwana Samatta, held on for the point in Annaba, with the least of possession, against a much-changed Algerian side.
With qualification already under their belt, Algeria’s head coach Djamel Belmadi had decided to overhaul his squad, and give other players an opportunity. He later on introduced his venomous arsenal in the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Said Benrahma, but Tanzania managed to hold on.
Their last qualification to the AFCON was in 2019, when they were drawn in the same group as Kenya’s Harambee Stars, with the Algerians and Senegal. They finished bottom after losing all their games.
