TACTICAL ANALYSIS: How Tanzania’s rotational mastery and fullback play overwhelmed Mauritania
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Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 09.08.25. | 08:35
While Mauritania’s defenders were physically dominant, they were less comfortable defending passes in behind and on the blind side
Tanzania took a significant step toward the knockout stages of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) with a 1-0 win over Mauritania at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Wednesday, 6 August.
The victory, earned by a late goal from right-back Shomari Kapombe, was a product of sustained tactical control, intelligent rotations, and an eventual exploitation of defensive flaws in Mauritania’s setup. The win, Tanzania’s second of the tournament, puts them top of Group B and underlines their evolution as a possession-dominant, tactically fluid side under Hemed Suleiman.
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Despite only scoring once, the Taifa Stars dominated the encounter. They registered 68% possession and took 11 shots, although only two were on target. The numbers reflect a team that controlled proceedings and built their way patiently into the final third, with positional discipline and well-rehearsed movement patterns.
Structural Foundations and Build-Up Play
Tanzania set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Suleiman Ali in goal.
The back four featured Kapombe on the right, Husseini Mohamed on the left, and a central pairing of Dickson Job and Ibrahim Hamad. The midfield trio consisted of Yusuph Kagoma, Mudathir Yahya, and the technically gifted Feisal Salum. The front three included Clement Mzize, Iddi Nado, and Abdul Suleiman.
From the outset, Tanzania looked to dominate possession and construct attacks methodically.
In the first phase of build-up, they adopted a 2-2-4-2 shape, with the centre-backs playing a pivotal role in circulation. The fullbacks were instrumental as outlets, pushing high into the second phase where they frequently received the ball in space. This allowed Tanzania to maintain width while offering vertical progression through combinations with the advanced midfielders and wide forwards.
Salum was particularly influential, occasionally dropping into the first phase to provide numerical superiority in buildup. His ability to receive between the lines disrupted Mauritania’s compactness. Mauritania defended in a 4-4-2 mid-block but often struggled to maintain compactness between the midfield and defensive lines, allowing Feisal to dictate play from the half-spaces.
Positional Rotations and Spatial Exploitation
Tanzania’s front five executed a series of coordinated rotations throughout the match, which consistently unsettled Mauritania’s defensive shape.
Mzize, Nado, Feisal, and Suleiman interchanged positions fluidly. At times, Mzize drifted into midfield to support possession and create overloads, while Iddi Nado shifted wide to drag markers and allow Salum or Suleiman to occupy central attacking spaces.
These rotational movements caused structural disarray in Mauritania’s back line and midfield block, especially when accompanied by forward runs from the fullbacks. With defenders often occupied by tracking movement in front of them, Tanzania’s fullbacks found ample space on the blind side, particularly Kapombe, who pushed high with great timing.
While Mauritania’s defenders were physically dominant and dealt well with aerial crosses, they were less comfortable defending passes in behind and on the blind side. Tanzania repeatedly attempted to exploit this weakness, though Mauritania’s defensive recovery runs nullified most of the resulting chances.
Mauritania’s Defensive Vulnerabilities
Mauritania’s decision to maintain a high line without consistent pressure on the ball proved costly. On multiple occasions, Tanzania’s midfielders and defenders were afforded time and space to pick vertical passes behind the defence. This structural flaw eventually led to the decisive moment of the game.
In the final minutes, with Mauritania stretched and retreating, Iddi Nado received the ball in the right half-space with no immediate pressure. Spotting the advanced run of Kapombe, Nado played a perfectly weighted pass into the blind side of the defence.
Kapombe controlled it with composure and fired past the goalkeeper from close range. It was a goal that embodied the tactical themes of the game: Tanzania’s usage of fullbacks in advanced positions, Mauritania’s lack of ball pressure, and poor blind-side awareness.
Controlled it. Scored it. Won it. Kapombe understood the assignment. 😮💨🇹🇿
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) August 6, 2025
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Tanzania’s win was a well-deserved reward for a tactically intelligent and structured performance. Their control of possession, disciplined rotations, and emphasis on fullback involvement were central to their approach. While they struggled to convert their dominance into frequent high-quality chances, their patience and commitment to their attacking patterns eventually broke Mauritania’s resistance.
For Mauritania, the game exposed key defensive weaknesses, especially in terms of spatial awareness and pressure coordination. With Tanzania now top of Group B, their tactical clarity and adaptability make them a formidable contender as the tournament progresses.
