Overview:
Miguel Angel Gamondi: Uganda is not a giant. It is East African derby and the match against them will be a very tough game.
35th TotalEnergies AFCON (Group C):
- Saturday, 27th December 2025:
- Uganda Vs Tanzania (8:30 PM, East African Time)
- Al Medina Stadium, Rabat
Tanzania head coach Miguel Angel Gamondi, 59, is a highly experienced tactician who will mark 25 years of coaching football on the African continent.
The Argentine has seen it all with spells in his native Argentina, Libya, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Algeria, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and now Tanzania.
Addressing the media at the official media center in Rabat on the eve of the East African derby, Gamondi boldly asserted that Uganda was an ordinary team.
“Uganda is not a giant. It is an East African derby and the match against them will be a very tough game,” commented answering a question on how he rates Uganda posed by a one Juma, a journalist from Tanzania.
“The team will have the right character, temperament and game management will win the game,” he added.
Tanzania lost 1-2 to Nigeria in Fes as Uganda succumbed 1-3 to Tunisia in Rabat.
“Against Nigeria, it was a good start, even with the loss. We have hope to improve,” he reflected.
“We came here to get a very good start. We are here to write history. There is a big gap between Nigeria and Tanzania. We are here to make a challenge. Tanzania is now a very well structured team and disciplined. The mindset and mentality has changed. We are ready to challenge any team on the continent,” he added.
Gamondi returns to Morocco, where he has handled a number of clubs, such as Wydad Casablanca, Hassania Agadir and Ittihad Riad Tanger.
He was flanked by senior player Saimon Msuva of Al Talaba Sports Club in Iraq.
Msuva expressed the readiness to face the Uganda Cranes in the derby contest.
“Wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” Msuva started. “We are here to win and compete. We are ready to compete. Everyone can score. We need to avoid defeat. All players want this game. We are aware Uganda has quality but we need this game. We have not played Uganda for the first time. We need to beat them,” he added.
During Matchday 2 in Group C, Nigeria takes on Tunisia in Fes, whilst Uganda will face Tanzania in Rabat.