Tanzania’s Taifa Stars stepped up their preparations ahead of next month’s African Nations Cup qualifier against Nigeria by playing a friendly match against Libya in Turkey.

The team, which is currently camping in Kertepe, Turkey, went down 2-1 to the North Africans yesterday at the Kertepe Stadium; Azam skipper John Raphael Bocco scored the consolation goal for the East Africans.

The team is expected back in Dar es Salaam from the one-week camp next week Tuesday.

They take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their second group match of the AFCON-2017 qualifiers. Stars lost 3-0 to Egypt in their first group “G” match staged in Cairo in June.

The team coached by Charles Benjamin Mkwasa is made up of 29 players, including five foreign-based players.

They will play their next game this weekend against Kuwait before heading home on Tuesday.