Tanzania kicked off their TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 campaign in style with a commanding 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso in Dar es Salaam on Saturday night.
Backed by a raucous home crowd at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, the Taifa Stars controlled large spells of the Group B encounter to record their first-ever win in an opening CHAN fixture—having lost both of their previous tournament openers.
A composed first-half penalty from Abdul Sopu set the tone before defender Mohamed Hussein sealed the victory midway through the second half with a powerful header, sending local fans into raptures.
The result hands Tanzania an early advantage in a tough group that also includes Madgascar, Mauritania and the Central African Republic.
For Burkina Faso, the wait for a first opening-day win at CHAN continues, having now failed to win any of their four tournament debuts.
Tanzania started brightly, with Clement Mzize and Feisal Salum both testing Burkina Faso keeper Ladji Sanou in the opening exchanges.
At the other end, Yakoub Suleiman had to be alert to deny Souleymane Sangaré and Papus Ouattara as the West Africans threatened briefly on the counter.
But just before half-time, Mzize was brought down in the box by Frank Tologo, and Sopu confidently sent Sanou the wrong way from the spot in the third minute of stoppage time.
Burkina Faso made a triple substitution at the break in a bid to swing momentum, introducing the experienced Patrick Malo and Yves Koutiama.
Yet it was Tanzania who continued to push forward with intensity and purpose.
After a spell of sustained pressure, Mudathir Yahya floated in a teasing delivery from the right and Mohamed Hussein rose highest to guide his header into the centre of the net in the 71st minute.
Burkina Faso threw bodies forward in the final 10 minutes but lacked composure in front of goal.
Attempts from Tertius Bagré and Ouattara failed to hit the target as Tanzania held firm to secure all three points.
The Taifa Stars will now look to build on this momentum in their next group match, while Burkina Faso face an uphill task if they are to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history.