Tanzania: Serengeti Boys Will Make It - Football Federation

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President Jamal Malinzi is confident that Serengeti Boys will qualify for the 12th edition of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations finals slated for Madagascar next year.

Tanzania's U-17 side, Serengeti Boys moved a step closer to realising the dream to play in the continental youth finals after registering a 3-2 win over Congo Brazzaville in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Bakari Shime's youngsters will need to avoid a defeat in Brazzaville in a fortnight to book a historic place in the African youth finals.

Speaking to the 'Daily News' yesterday, Malinzi congratulated Serengeti Boys and the team's technical bench and expressed optimism that they have what it takes to reach the finals. "Congratulations to our boys. They have done a good job. I'm very optimistic and I believe that we're going to qualify.

This is a genuine belief. We're in pole position and I have a feeling that our team will finish off the job," the TFF boss said. "We're into the return leg with confidence, they will be under pressure," added Malinzi, "I have spoken with the coaches and they're upbeat ahead of the return leg.

Serengeti Boys scored three classic goals and could have killed off the tie; unfortunately, they conceded two soft goals against Les Diables Rouges (Red Devils), including a cheap penalty, which stained the otherwise superb performance.

Yohana Nkomola scored a stunning double and substitute Said Makamba added a beauty after Congo had reduced the deficit as Bakari Shime's youngsters went 3-1 up as the game entered the added 6 minutes page time.

But Prestige Mboungou's heartbreaking second strike for Congo Brazzaville put the tie very much in the balance. Now the Boys must ensure they avoid defeat to sail through. In preparation for the decisive return leg, TFF plans to send the Serengeti Boys outside the country for a training camp.

"We expect to send them to a camp outside the country, they're scheduled to leave on Thursday to a country that we're yet to decide, but by tomorrow we'll know which country. They will stay in the camp until the date for the second leg."

To set a date with Congo- Brazzaville, Serengeti Boys eliminated Seychelles by 9-0 goals on aggregate, before seeing off South Africa's Amajimbos by 3-1 goal on aggregate. After a 1-1 draw in South Africa, Serengeti Boys won 2-0 in the return leg held in Chamazi Complex in Dar es Salaam.

Congo-Brazzaville saw off Namibia on a 5-1 goal aggregate. Serengeti Boys is the only team from the East African Community (EAC) remaining in contention for a place in next year's AYC finals set for Antananarivo.

The second leg matches will take place between September 30 and October 2, and seven eventual winners will join host Madagascar for the final tournament fixed for 2-16 April 2017.