Tanzania's participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco is under threat after a potential rules breach in their decisive Group H qualifier against Guinea, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Taifa Stars secured a 1-0 victory over Guinea at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, booking their spot in the tournament.
However, controversy has emerged surrounding a substitution made by Tanzania in the 73rd minute. The player who came on wore the number 26 shirt, but the team sheet submitted to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) did not include a player assigned to that number.
This apparent discrepancy violates CAF regulations regarding player identification, potentially compromising the integrity of the competition.
Guinea has formally reported the incident to CAF, which will review the matter before making a decision.
If found guilty, Tanzania could face disqualification from the 2025 AFCON, a severe penalty that would have significant implications for the team and its fans.
By Olujimi Dare Ogun