The battle for the top spot of Group J of the CAF FIFA World Cup qualifiers sees off table toppers Tanzania square up with Benin at the Benjamin Nkapa National Stadium in Da es Salaam on Thursday with kickoff at 16:00.
Both Tanzania and Benin have collected four points from their opening two matches but Tanzania hold the top spot in the group standing owing to their superior goal difference. The Taifa Stars opened with a 1-1 away draw against DR Congo before beating Madagascar 3-2 at home in their second match.
Kim Poulsen’s side head into the Thursday’s contest in a good form having just lost one match in their last five matches across all competitions and their win over Madagascar marked their fourth unbeaten match in row, picking up three wins and a draw in the process.
Therefore, Taifa Stars will be looking to keep their good form running in this clash as they aim to make it t the third and final round of the CAF World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Benin began their World Cup qualifying campaign on a winning note as they beat Madagascar 1-0 away from home before drawing 1-1 with DR Congo in their second match and are behind Tanzania in the group standings due to their one goal apiece in both of their opening matches.
The Squirrels head into the clash in a slightly below average form having won one, drawn three and lost two of their last six matches and will enter the match hoping to keep their dreams of qualifying for their first World Cup alive.
This match will be a close fight and exciting as both sides will go a for a win as whoever loses might find themselves away from the top if DR Congo wins in their match against Madagascar.
Tanzania vs Benin head to head
Both sides have met in two occasions since 2014 with Tanzania wining one match whereas Benin are yet to collect a win and one match ended in a draw. take a look at their previous encounters;
- Benin 1-1 Tanzania 12/11/2017
- Tanzania 4-1 Benin 12/10/2014
Home
- Tanzania 3-2 Madagascar
- DR Congo 1-1 Tanzania
- Tanzania 2-0 Malawi
- Tanzania 1-0 Libya
- Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Tanzania
Away
- Benin 1-1 DR Congo
- Madagascar 0-1 Benin
- Sierra Leone 1-0 Benin
- Benin 2-2 Zambia
- Benin 0-1 Nigeria
Tanzania team news
Head coach Kim Poulsen has named his 24-man squad for this month’s double-header against Benin and some of the key players include Mbwana Samatta and Simon Msuva.
Benin team news
Michel has called a 25-man squad with Batori Douyeme making a debut with Steve Mounie and Khaled Adenon headlining the inclusion.
Prediction and odds
- Draw
- Tanzania win
- Goals under 2.5
