Afcon 2023: Suspended Tanzania coach Adel Amrouche is “one of us,” says captain Mbwana Samatta

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Adel Amrouche (left) led Tanzania to the Afcon final for the third time and Mbwana Samatta (right) says the coach still has an influence on the team despite his suspension.

Tanzania captain Mbwana Samatta has described their suspended coach Adel Amrouche as “one of us” and said he wished the team could have him at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) imposed sanctions on Amrouche on Friday after he was banned for eight matches and fined $10,000 (£7,900) by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

This was followed by a complaint from the Moroccan Federation (RMFF) to Caf about comments made by Amrouche.

“He (Amrouche) prepared us for the Afcon and after the first game he was suspended. So it’s actually tough for the group,” Samatta told ` Sport Africa.

“We wish we could have him with us. But that’s what happened and we can’t change it, so let’s stay together.”

The TFF said Amrouche's comments made before the start of the Afcon criticized the RMFF's influence on African football.

“We stand in solidarity as coaches. You work together and it was our mission to make a difference in this Afcon,” he said.

Tanzania, currently bottom of Group F with one point, needs a win against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their final group game on Wednesday (20:00 GMT) to have any chance of reaching the round of 16.

Samatta says Amrouche is still a big part of the team's preparations despite his absence.

The 55-year-old was appointed Tanzania coach in March last year and led the East Africans to the Afcon, securing a point in the final qualifier in his native Algeria.

“We managed to play our game against Zambia and it didn’t break us,” added former Aston Villa striker Samatta.

“We’re going to try to make sure we play our game and try to win our game. We still think about him being with us because we can't leave him out of our team. He’s one of us.”