Starting the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) cohost Tanzania with a powerful effort, defeated Burkina Faso 2-0 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday evening.

Just before halftime, Abdul Sopu scored a penalty, giving the Taifa Stars a ten lead. Zimbwe Jr. added a second goal in the 71st minute, helping Tanzania win the game and early lead in fiveteam Group B.

Coach Hemed Morocco’s team had not won their first match in the tournament during the 2009 and 2020 editions, but they started off well in Dar es Salaam. With early goal attempts, Clement Mzize and Feisal Salum both challenged Burkina Faso’s goalkeeper, Ladji Sanou.

With Souleymane Sangare and Papus Ouattara generating possibilities and putting Tanzania’s goalie Yakoub Suleiman under counterattacks to the test, Burkina Faso also had their opportunities.

Just before the break, Tanzania had a golden chance to score when Frank Tologo fouled Mzize in the box.Opening the Tanzanian scoring, Sopu took the penalty and sent Sanou the wrong way.

Tanzania kept applying pressure in the second half, which led to their second goal in the 71st minute. Zimbwe Jr. headed Mudathir Yahya’s cross to raise their advantage to 20.

Burkina Faso pressed forward in the last minutes of the match in search of a comeback.Tertius Bagre and Ouattara both battled to find their composure in important moments, therefore enabling the Taifa Stars to hold on to their advantage and claim victory.

Tanzania’s upcoming challenge is against Mauritania on August 6th, followed by a match with Madagascar on August 9th. They will conclude their group campaign with a game against the Central African Republic on August 16th.

Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda are co-hosting the CHAN finals, which feature 19 nations divided into four groups.