On 21 November 2018, Tanzania’s Taifa Stars were left facing questions after several players declined a live television interview moments after a 1-0 defeat to Lesotho in Maseru in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The loss mattered because a victory would have sealed Tanzania’s place at the continental tournament for the first time in 38 years. Instead, the team’s mood was visibly flat, and goalkeeper Aisha Manula was among those who turned away from the post-match camera request.
In a video posted on Facebook, the journalist can be heard pressing the players to explain why they were willing to speak after wins but not after defeat. She also urged them to address Tanzanians, saying the team still had a chance to qualify.
The clip, recorded inside the players’ changing room, shows two other players also declining to take part in the interview.
Tanzania’s route to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations was still open, but only if they won their final home match against already qualified Uganda in Group L. That task was made more delicate after President Yoweri Museveni publicly told Uganda’s players not to lose the game.
Even if the Cranes have already qualified, I know that they still have a game to play against Tanzania. Please make sure you do not lose that game. Congratulations once again. pic.twitter.com/e3G1ATkNDz — Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) November 20, 2018
Separately, it was not clear whether Taifa Stars players had returned the Sh2 million cash token that President John Pombe Magufuli had conditionally offered them before the Lesotho match.
