Tanzania sacks coach Amrouche after CAF ban over Morocco remarks

Tanzania has fired head coach Adel Amrouche after he was handed an eight-match ban by CAF for accusing Morocco of match manipulation ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations clash.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) held an emergency meeting on Friday, January 19, following the punishment from the Confederation of African Football.

It then announced it had terminated Amrouche’s contract with immediate effect.

Amrouche drew CAF’s ire after alleging that Morocco’s football federation used its wealth and influence to gain an advantage ahead of their Group F match last Wednesday, which Morocco won 3-0.

He claimed Morocco forced the game to be played in the evening and manipulated referee appointments.

CAF deemed the comments to be unfounded and in breach of its statutes.

TFF spokesperson Clifford Mario Ndimbo said in a statement that Amrouche’s sacking was a result of bringing the federation into disrepute through his accusations against Morocco.

Former Taifa Stars player Hemed Sulleiman will take over as caretaker coach for the rest of Tanzania’s AFCON campaign.

His first game in charge will be against Zambia on Sunday.

It is not the first time Amrouche has faced disciplinary issues.

He was previously banned by CAF for allegedly assaulting match officials during his tenure as Kenya coach from 2013-2014.