Hosts Tanzania are on the verge of advancing to the quarter-finals of the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024, thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mauritania. Veteran defender Shomari Kapombe was the hero, scoring a dramatic late goal to secure all three points for the home side at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.

The tense Group B clash, played under floodlights on Wednesday, remained goalless until the 89th minute. The deadlock was broken when Kapombe, showing a striker’s instinct, latched onto a clever through ball from Iddy Nado and slotted it past goalkeeper Abderrahmane Sarr, sparking wild celebrations among the Tanzanian fans.

The win is Tanzania’s second in as many matches, taking them to the top of Group B with a perfect six points and ensuring they are on a firm path to the knockout stages. For Mauritania, the loss is a bitter blow, leaving them winless and facing an uphill battle to stay in the competition.

The match was a cagey affair in the first half, with both sides displaying tactical discipline. While Mauritania showed some promise, their best chance came just before the break when Ahmed El Moctar’s shot was saved by Tanzanian keeper Yakoub Suleiman. Tanzania, too, had their own half-chances but struggled to find a rhythm in the final third.

The tempo increased in the second half with both coaches making strategic substitutions. The match seemed destined for a draw until Kapombe’s heroic run and finish. Mauritania threw everything forward in a desperate search for an equalizer during a scrappy stoppage time, but Tanzania’s defense held firm.

With this victory, Tanzania now leads Group B with six points, without having conceded a goal. They are followed by Burkina Faso with three points, while Madagascar and Mauritania have one point each. The win allows Tanzania to approach their final group fixture against Madagascar with confidence, while Mauritania must now beat Burkina Faso to have any hope of advancing.