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27 form Twiga Stars provisional squad for Ivory Coast duel
Twiga Stars players during the past training session. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Twiga Stars will play their first leg away on September 18, and their return leg on September 26 at the Azam Complex in the city.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's national women's senior football team (Twiga Stars) head coach, Bakari Shime, has formed his provisional squad of 27 players ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier slated for next month against Ivory Coast.
Twiga Stars will play their first leg away on September 18, and their return leg on September 26 at the Azam Complex in the city.
The trainer has included 16 players in the squad from Tanzania’s champions, JKT Queens; two from Yanga Princess; three from Simba Queens; one from Fountain Gate Princess; and five from various foreign leagues.
Players from JKT Queens are Najat Abasi, Zulfa Makau, Anastazia Katunzi, Happy Hezro, Christer Bahera, Vaileth Nicholaus, Joyce Lema, Zainabu Mohamed, Janeth Pangamwene, Amina Ally, Donisia Minja, Stumai Abdallah, Dina Mnali, Ester Mabanza, Jamila Rajabu, and Winfrida Gerald.
From Yanga Princess are Husna Mtunda and Noela Luhala, while from Simba are Aisha Juma, Fatuma Issa, and Koku Kipanga.
Fountain Gate Princess has contributed Sarah Joel as players from foreign based teams are Julueth Singano, who plays for Juarez in Mexico; Diana Lucas (Amed S.D.K., Turkey); Enekia Kasonga (FC Kryvbas, Ukraine); Aisha Masaka (BK Hacken) and Oppa Clement, who plays for Besiktas in Turkey.
The team will set up camp on September 7, according to Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Information Officer Clifford Ndimbo.
The draw shows that the winners between Twiga Stars and Ivory Coast will meet the winners between Djibouti and Togo in the second round matches slated for November 27 and the return leg on December 5.
According to the draw, Morocco, by virtue of being the hosts, will not engage in the qualifiers that are set for August this year, while the reigning champions, South Africa, along with the third-place finishers, Zambia, will only engage in the qualifiers during the second round.
Senegal kicked off their campaign against Mozambique, while South Sudan were set up with a tie against Egypt.
Eleven-time African champions Nigeria were drawn against Sao Tome and Principe, who will have an uphill battle against the former champions.
The DR Congo face Benin, with the winners facing either Equatorial Guinea or Libya in the next round.
Cape Verde have a tricky encounter against Liberia, while Algeria will be looking to make a good return to the tournament when facing Uganda.
Ghana will cross swords against Rwanda in what promises to be an epic duel, while Togo, who are aiming for their second participation in the tournament, must first overcome Djibouti.
The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon take on Kenya, with the winners having to face the victor between Gabon and Botswana.
Quarter-finalists at Morocco 2022, Tunisia will play Niger, with the winner setting up a match against the winners between Guinea-Bissau and Congo in the second.
