Dar Es Salaam — RWANDA applied a tactical mind game, to put Taifa Stars under pressure, ahead of their return leg tie of African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier match in Kigali, after abruptly changing date of the match.

As Tanzania prepares to host world soccer giants Brazil on Monday next week, anxiety is mounting at the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) quarters on how to handle the emerging pressure.

The state of affairs emanates from their Rwandese counterparts, who rescheduled the crunch qualifying match that was earlier planned for Saturday. The match will now be played on Sunday, just a day before the historic visit and match between Taifa Stars and the star studded Brazilian World Cup outfit at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

TFF spokesperson Florian Kaijage agreed yesterday that the situation has put them under pressure but said, they will get the best possible solution that will not affect the team's performance in Kigali, which is more crucial match for Tanzania to win.

In the first leg match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on May 1, Rogers Tchouassi put Amavubi ahead but Azam's new signing Mrisho Ngasa equalised for Taifa Stars. Taifa Stars will need nothing short of clear victory at the Amahoro Stadium, to book their ticket into the prestigious second CHAN finals to be staged in Khartoum, Sudan next year.

A draw of more than two goals will also benefit Taifa Stars, but a 1-1 draw will force the game to go into extra time, while a barren draw would see Stars out of the qualifiers. Stars made history after successfully qualifying into the maiden finals staged in Ivory Coast last year.

Kaijage said the team was supposed to leave on Thursday to Kigali ahead of the return leg, but quickly noted that preparations were underway to secure a private jet to and from Kigali.

"Our counterparts in Rwanda made sudden changes on the dates for the match. Now the pressure is on us. "We are now forced to return home the same day after the game against host Amavubi. It means we must organize reliable private transport that will bring players back to Tanzania, immediately after the match so that they can make it for the not to miss meeting with Brazil," he said.

He said: "Preparations for the two important matches are in good progress. Maximo, Taifa Stars coach, is doing well with the boys. We are looking for a better option so that the boys are left in a wanting situation."

Earlier, Taifa Stars manager Leopold 'Taso' Mukebezi said the match against Brazil will not derail their focus to prepare for the encounter against Rwanda.

"I know fans have their attention set on Monday, but they should continue to support and pray for the team to win the crucial CHAN qualifiers match against Amavubi. It is definitely going to be a tough match for us and this is why we have put the Brazil match aside at the moment and our training focus is directed toward winning against Rwanda," said Mukebezi.