Football-Tanzania - The national soccer team, Taifa Stars, head coach Jan Poulsen would likely ring some changes in the team's set-up when he unveil his squad for the crucial 2012 African Nations Cup (Afocn) qualifier against Central African Republic this afternoon. The Danish tactician has not been short of surprises in his squad selections since he took charge of the national team in August,last year, basically choosing players based on their form and has never wavered chopping big names, given they're struggling for form. Soccer fans should therefore brace themselves for some bolt from the blue when the Dane makes public his weapons for next week's qualifier as there might be some new faces in the Stars' set-up.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Information Officer, Boniface Wambura, confirmed on Monday that Poulsen will announce the squad at 12:00pm, at the TFF headquarters, with the team expected to move into residential camp tomorrow.

Stars are set to host the CAR at the state-of-art National Stadium on March 27. This will be the first time ever the two nations meet in the continental competition. The two sides are expected to play the return leg encounter at the latter's backyard between June 3 and 5.

Poulsen's men currently trail Central African Republic in Group D, with a single point, as against the CAR's four. Morocco is hot on the group leaders' heels at the second spot with four points from a win and a draw but has an inferior goal difference with the CAR.

Algeria, which participated in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, is at the bottom of the standing with a point from two games after managing a 1-all draw with Stars before losing to the CAR in the other. On the same weekend that the Stars host Central African Republic, the Algerians are away to face their North African opponents, Morocco.

The Central African Republic encounter will be massive game for the Stars. They need to win it to get their campaign back on track after conceding a 1-0 home defeat against Morocco in their previous game last October.

Speaking in the wake of Morocco defeat, Poulsen admitted Taifa Stars have to step up a gear if they want to qualify for the coveted AFCON finals. Poulsen said they need a clear win in their game against Central African Republic.

He said the game will determine Stars' chances of qualifying for the 2012 AFCON finals that will be jointly hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. In another development, Wambura reiterated that Taifa Stars will not be playing any friendly match ahead of their decisive encounter against the CAR.

TFF's stance may not go down well with local fans who were profoundly disappointed by Taifa Stars' destitute show during the Nile Basin event and a below show against Palestine. Most of the fans who talked to this paper recently argued that playing friendlies will help boost the side as they prepare to face their opponents in qualifying series.

CAR have already revealed their squad which comprise 23 players in which some of them are home-based while others are plying their trade in several countries including Chad, Congo Brazzaville, France, Gabon, Morocco and Singapore.

The Les Fauves will arrive with a contingent of 32 people and will be led by the country's Sports Minister Aurelien Zingas.

Tanzania Daily News/15/03/2011