Twiga Stars upbeat ahead of Wafcon finals challenge

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s senior women’s national football team, Twiga Stars, are fully prepared for the challenges that lie ahead at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals, which are set to kick off in Morocco this Saturday.

The team is currently in Rabat, undergoing a focused five-day training camp aimed at fine-tuning tactics, improving fitness, and strengthening team cohesion.

Head coach Bakari Shime confirmed in an interview with The Citizen yesterday that all players have reported to camp and are in high spirits ahead of the continental showpiece.

Shime expressed confidence in the squad’s level of preparation, praising the players’ commitment and attitude. “All our players are in camp and ready. We’ve had a good training environment here in Rabat, and the players are responding well. Our focus now is on translating that into strong performances once the tournament begins,” he said.

Twiga Stars have been drawn into Group C, which features some of the continent’s toughest opposition. The group includes defending champions South Africa, regional powerhouse Ghana, and West African rivals Mali.

This marks Tanzania’s third appearance at the Wafcon finals, and the team remains optimistic about advancing beyond the group stage for the first time.

The Tanzanian side will begin their campaign on Sunday, 7 July, with a crucial fixture against Mali at Berkane Stadium. The match is seen as key to Tanzania’s hope

s of progressing, as Mali are considered direct rivals for one of the two automatic qualification spots.

Their second match will be played on Thursday, 11 July, against reigning champions South Africa at Honor Stadium in Oujda. South Africa’s strength in depth and tactical discipline are well known, but Twiga Stars are hoping to cause an upset.

Twiga Stars will conclude their group-stage journey on Sunday, 14 July, against Ghana, once again at Berkane Stadium. Ghana’s long history in the tournament and seasoned players present another stern test, underlining the need for Tanzania to collect early points.

Other Group C matches include South Africa against Ghana on 7 July at Honor Stadium, Ghana versus Mali on 11 July at Berkane Stadium, and South Africa against Mali on 14 July at Honor Stadium.

All teams in the group will be competing for one of the top two spots that guarantee automatic qualification to the quarter-finals, while the two best third-placed teams across all groups will also progress. With such stiff competition, every point will be vital for the Twiga Stars.

Backed by a hopeful fan base both at home and in the diaspora, the team carries the nation’s expectations as they seek to make history on the continental stage.