Tanzania have sacked their manager one game into the African Cup of Nations after he picked up an eight-match touchline ban for accusing Morocco of influencing referee appointments
The East African nation will go into their next group stage games against Zambia and Congo without their boss Adel Amrouche after he was fired just one game into AFCON.
Amrouche made a furious rant before Tanzania’s 3-0 defeat to Morocco, which saw him banned by CAF from the touchline for eight matches.
AFP reported that Algerian national Amrouche claimed the Atlas Lions held too much sway in African football, and that the World Cup semi-finalists were influencing the appointment of referees.
Amrouche was suspended by CAF and fined $10,000 over his comments, before the Tanzania football federation decided to fire the 55-year-old after just ten months in charge, winning just three of his nine matches as Tanzania boss.
Morocco has been installed as the acting coach for the remainder of their tournament, with Juma Mgunda as his assistant.
Tanzania’s are still looking for their first win at AFCON, with games against Zambia on Sunday and DR Congo on Wednesday.
Tournament favourites Morocco beat Tanzania 3-0 on Wednesday, courtesy of goals from Romain Saiss, Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri.
En-Nesyri celebrated his goal from the bench after being substituted during a lengthy VAR check to confirm that the third goal of the match was legitimate.
Tanzania are playing at the continental showpiece for the third time, and have named several non-league players in their squad.
Boreham Wood’s Mo Sagaf, Haji Mnoga, currently on loan at Aldershot from Portsmouth, and Wealdstone’s Tarryn Allarakhia are also among the squad, as is Ben Starkie, who is dual registered with Ilkeston Town and Alfreton Town.
