Tanzania Football Federation has suspended coach Adel Amrouche after getting an eight-match ban by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over derogatory comments on Morocco.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) disciplinary committee had earlier suspended Amrouche for eight matches and fined him $10,000.over offensive remarks about Morocco, the Tanzania Football Federation said on Friday.
The sanction was imposed after officials from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) contacted the CAF to complain about remarks made by Amrouche.
Morocco defeated Tanzania 3-0 in their opening game in Group F at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Wednesday, with Novatus Miroshi sent off.
The Tanzanian Federation announced the decision in an official statement on X, adding that Hemed Morocco has been appointed as the Acting Coach, with Juma Mgunda as his assistant.
“In another step, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has suspended coach Amrouche. As a result of that decision, Hemed Morocco has been appointed acting coach and he will be assisted by Juma Mgunda,” TFF spokesman Clifford Mario Ndimbo said.
During a televised interview on Algerian TV earlier this week, Amrouche accused the Moroccan Federation of using its influence within CAF to secure more favourable playing time slots for the Moroccan national team.
“The Morocco federation is a proven power in the world of African football. Morocco manages African football. They also choose their referees and we remain simple spectators,” Amrouche said in an interview on Algerian television ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Amrouche, born in Algeria but a Belgian citizen, said Morocco had “a strike force” within the African confederation doing their bidding.
“For example, during the match between us and Morocco in the World Cup qualifiers in November we asked to play at two p.m.,” he said.
Tanzania is aiming to reach the knockout stages of the AFCON for the first time in their third appearance when they play their second group game against Zambia in San Pedro on Sunday.
Amrouche was appointed coach of the Tanzania national team in March 2023, leading them to AFCON by securing a point in his birth country of Algeria in their final qualifying match.
The 55-year-old has previously had spells in charge of Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Kenya, Libya and Botswana.
